Discover the difference of running rigging made with Dyneema, the world’s strongest fiber™: On a weight-for-weight basis, Dyneema® is 15 times stronger than steel. It is used to stop bullets, tow tankers, protect workers, enclose fish and assist surgeons. The material’s superior strength- to-weight ratio makes it ideal for the demanding environment aboard a racing yacht. It’s no wonder that almost every team participating in major regattas-including the America’s Cup, Vendée Globe and the Volvo Ocean Race - uses yachting lines made with Dyneema®.

In competitive racing, the running rigging is critical to maximum performance while bearing high dynamic loads. By providing maximum strength in combination with its other unmatched properties, rigging made with Dyneema® enables teams to race harder under more extreme conditions.

All racing yachts are geared to save weight wherever possible. By reducing the load above the waterline, a multiple of this saving can be taken off the keel. Equipment made with Dyneema® can lead to valuable weight savings in many ways. The lower density fiber means lighter lines. The higher strength-to-weight ratio means smaller diameter lines. And less water absorption also means lighter rigging.

Ropes made with Dyneema® have very low stretch due to the high modulus of the fiber. This results in more control while sailing and no energy absorption. In racing, the slightest difference in sail trim will determine winning or losing. Stretch in a sheet or halyard beyond its designated position will compromise the trim. The crew, therefore, must be able to rely on the accuracy of the running rigging.

Working onboard a racing yacht equipped with lines made with Dyneema® is not only more efficient, it also is less physically demanding. Due to the superior strength-to-weight ratio, lines made with Dyneema® can have a smaller diameter and are very light at the same strength. In fact, lines made with Dyneema® are up to 30 percent lighter than LCP- or aramid based lines of the same strength and have only half the weight of polyester lines. Next to this, Dyneema® will not absorb or retain water, further reducing the weight and possible drag. In addition, because the density of the material is lower than the density water, lines made with Dyneema® will float. All this results in superior handling for the crew on a boat.

For the rigger, lines made with Dyneema® are easier to splice compared to lines made from other fibers. Also, the lines run smoothly through the blocks and sheaves while resisting kinking and hockling. And compared to steel wire halyards, those made with Dyneema® are softer on hands and gear.

A racing yacht is only as good as its weakest link. Every crew member as well as every piece of equipment must be ready and able to perform the appointed duty. Rigging is no exception. Under the extreme conditions in a race, the crew needs to be able to rely on the performance and durability of the lines. Running rigging made with Dyneema® will withstand the harshest, most demanding conditions, due to the many unmatched combination of properties of this remarkable fiber.

Its good tension and bending fatigue properties ensure that lines retain their original and intended shape and form. They won’t stretch out and wear as fast as lines made with other materials. In addition, Dyneema® is also very resistant to chemicals and UV– important for rigging exposed to the harsh conditions, including sun and salt, of ocean racing. In short, these ropes are built to perform time and time again, thanks to Dyneema®.

Dyneema® has proven to be highly versatile for a wide range of products in the sport yachting industry, in addition to racing yachts. The combination of high performance and durability make it the ideal material, from both a technical and economic point of view, for running rigging for performance cruisers and super yachts.

With the perfect balance of strength and weight, Dyneema® is perfectly suited for sails. Sailcloth made with Dyneema® is capable of bearing extreme loads while saving weight. And with very low stretch, these sails retain their shape perfectly. Sailcloth made with Dyneema® is also highly resistant to abrasion, UV radiation and chemicals, further adding to their durability and desirability.

In cooperation with top sailing teams from the Volvo Ocean Race, we have developed Dyneema® SK78. This new grade adds improved creep performance for better stability under static loads. Dyneema® SK78 has been used by the ABN AMRO ONE and Pirates of the Caribbean teams in the Volvo Ocean Race 2005/2006, which finished first and second respectively.

DSM Dyneema, the inventor and manufacturer of Dyneema®, is a division of one of the world’s leading companies. We are constantly researching improvements and new applications for this innovative material. By collaborating with leading institutes, customers and end users – and by using our own well-equipped testing facilities – we actively pursue technical insight for new products and applications made with Dyneema®. We welcome any challenges that will push us to redefine the limits of yacht racing… by using Dyneema® in all kinds of applications on board.