Genoa Taffeta Endure

for cruising sailboatscarbonDyneema®

After extensive testing, UK Sailmakers is happy to introduce a new filament for cruising sails that will last and have great shape holding. X-Drive Endure is made with narrow Endumax® ribbons. Endumax is an Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene, similar to Spectra® and Dyneema® — fibers known for high strength and durability. Endumax tests nearly as well as carbon, which means cruising sails can be made with the same performance as racing sails in a clean classic white appearance. Because these sails are made with Endumax and because they have the endurance that is required for successful cruising and shorthanded sailing, we named the new line of sails, X-Drive Endure. According to Teijin, the makers of Endumax; It is made of a special type of UHMWPE (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene), making it the strongest UHMWPE film available in the world. It also has a higher modulus and better abrasion resistance, UV resistance, creep properties and thermal-aging performance than other UHMWPE fibers. Teijian also says that Endumax is the most sustainable UHMWPE product available, being made in an environmentally friendly, solvent-free process. As a result, the film contains no additional processing aids or solvent residue. And the thermoplastic nature of UHMWPE means that it can also be easily recycled. To help protect today’s sails and extend their peak performance lives, UK Sailmakers builds all our X-Drive cruising sails where one side of the laminate is fully covered with a lightweight finely-woven polyester taffeta that not only protects the film layer from abrasion, but it also prevents cracking of the film and reduces creasing.