ISTEC’s redeveloped Parasailor is a breakthrough in sail design and will set a new standard in sailing.
The special features of the Parasailor mean that it is a replacement for both traditional spinnakers and also gennakers.
The sail is divided into an upper and a lower section. This allows a profiled, three-dimensional, pressure–filled wing to be positioned into the air current of the opening between the two sections. This wing was developed in a similar way to a paraglider or kite surfer ram air kite and it creates considerable forward motion and lift. This decreases the horizontal force on the spinnaker head and relieves considerably the pressure on the bow. Because of the internal force, the wing part of the parasailor² acts as lateral support and stabilizes the sides.
Rolling, yawing, pitching and broaching have been the main risks in sailing under spinnaker. Heavy seas and squally winds can result in even an experienced crew losing the spinnaker or, in the worst case, the whole rigging. The Parasailor uses intelligent, patented technology to shift the sail’s centre of pressure, which reduces this problem considerably. The valve function of the opening in the parasailor² dampens gusts as surplus air can quickly escape but at the same time it creates buoyancy.
