What makes this material exceptional?

• Significantly Lower Weight v. Sunbrella, Weathermax LT, etc.

• Appreciably More Compliant (softer “hand”)

• Improved Sustainability – Zero fluorine compounds, treated taffetas from recycled source yarn

In 2020, Advance Fiber Technologies LLC of Annapolis Maryland embarked on an ambitious R&D program to develop superior UV protective fabric for installation on the exterior portions of sails that face long term outdoor environmental exposure - the most common instances being headsails that are roller-furled on headstays, the exposed portions of main and mizzen sails when roller furled in booms and masts, and as leech/foot environmental protection on flying “code” sails with furling cables.

The result? Skylite™.

Now Mazu Sailcloth is partnered with AFT to bring Skylite™ to the world of high-performance outdoor textiles.

Our first Skylite™ product is based on treated 150 denier woven PET fabric. After Skylite™ treatment is applied to the fabric, mildew resistant pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) is applied. The Skylite™ treatment provides an exceptionally high level of water and stain repellency, and the PSA, typically with perimeter stitching, keeps the material nicely in place on a sail in use throughout the life of the sail.

Principal Features & Benefits of Skylite™ White PSA 200g:

Significantly Lower Weight v. Alternative Materials

The woven greige good used in this Skylite™ material offers excellent performance at a light weight - resulting in a complete PSA’ed “UV shield” fabric weighing 200 grams per square meter, total! Before Skylite™, a sailmaker’s options for long-life UV fabrics were woven Polyester fabrics with PSA weighing 1.7x Mazu’s Skylite™ PSA material, or Marine Grade acrylic woven cloth with PSA weighing 2x Skylite™.

Obviously, lowering the total weight of a sail while meeting or exceeding the performance and lifespan of a legacy product is an extremely desirable feature: less heel from reduced weight aloft, easier steering, having a more compact and lighter package when a sail is stored in, on, or off the boat, a lower cost to ship…the list goes on, and will be easily recognized by sailors worldwide.

An appreciably More Compliant (softer “hand”) UV Fabric Choice

200 gsm Skylite fabric is much less bulky and is noticeably more flexible than other full-season woven UV fabrics – approaching the same feel as “weekend” UV options while avoiding the requirement to store a furling sail out of the weather when not in use. This exceptional compliance offers multiple benefits:

• By not compromising the intended flying shape of the sail, the aerodynamic performance of the sail is maintained, further reducing heel, allowing better upwind pointing, and avoiding compromised air flow with other sails (i.e. the headsail/mainsail slot interaction).

• Lighter and more compliant leech/foot fabric allows a sail to pressurize in lower wind speeds. A Skylite protected sail will not hang/fold under its own weight even in lighter air. Less motoring, more sailing.

• Initiating and completing furling requires less effort, and results in a tighter, smoother furl (easier sailing, plus reduced windage at the dock or mooring, minimized weathering exposure once furled).

Sustainability

Skylite™ contains zero fluorine compounds – the dreaded “forever” chemicals - in the fabric. The performance textiles industry has been trying, unsuccessfully, to eliminate these compounds in highly weather resistant fabrics. With Skylite™, we’ve actually done it.

The PET taffeta in Skylite™ White PSA 200g is recycled source. That fact, in combination with zero fluourine content in Skylite treated fabric, puts Mazu Sailcloth in the leadership position for more sustainable and environmentally friendly sails.