The material family is already decided by the sail type. A Code Zero needs a light laminate that can hold a flat shape under high luff tension and survive repeated furling around its cable.
Why laminate
Nylon is right for a gennaker or spinnaker because it is light, elastic and able to fill in very little pressure. Those same properties are wrong for a Code Zero: stretch appears as luff sag, rounds the entry and removes the sail’s ability to work at tight angles.
A Code Zero laminate uses film and load-bearing fibres to hold its designed shape more precisely. It is closer to a light headsail cloth than to spinnaker nylon.
Choose from the valid grades
The configurator’s Cloth field shows the available Code Zero laminates. The appropriate grade follows from:
- sail area and expected luff load;
- intended wind range and use;
- the need to keep the rolled sail light and low in bulk;
- durability expected from its working life.
Lighter grades reduce weight in the luff and suit lower loads. Heavier grades support larger or more heavily worked sails. The heaviest option is not automatically the best one.
See Upwind & Code Zero Sailcloth for the material principles. Sailmaker Review confirms that the selected cloth belongs with the completed dimensions and cable system.
Storage matters
Rolling the sail around its cable is a gentle, repeatable curve. Folding a laminate sharply, especially along the same line, is more damaging. The working bag should therefore suit the complete rolled sail rather than force it into a short folded package.