Three sailboats together on the oceanWorking with Racers

High performance sails are exceptionally important to racers seeking an advantage over their competitors. Developing a high performance sail involves a variety of activities.  Sail-designers draw and develop an initial sail-shape prototype, which is manufactured, tested on a boat and modified and re-tested until the sail performs as desired.

Development and Optimization of single sails or entire sail plans.

SMAR Azure can work with you in your design. You would have to provide information such as:

  • Number and type of sails
  • Accurate measurements for each single sail and of the boat
  • Desired panel and patch layouts (if any)
  • Any information that can help the development of the sail, such as typical sailing conditions, preferred sail cloth and so on

Using the analytical tools built-in AZUREProject, the team will be able to develop and analyze how sails perform accurately analyzing the aeroelastic behaviour of sails in the requested up-wind sailing conditions. 

We provide the complete design file and, whether required a full report about the performance analysis calculations. This includes:

• An accurate calculation of the strain, stresses, and loads on the rig;
• Simulations of the flying shape;
• A sensitivity analysis to improve design in response to changes in trim, wind conditions, or design parameters.

To find our more email info@smar-azure.com

Over the last few years, analyses carried out with SMAR Azure technology have been proven to significantly improve sails-shapes – which in turn results in what every racer wants – a better performing boat.

Fiber layout development and optimization

SMAR Azure has recently developed SA Evolution, a revolutionary technology that evolves the traditional fiber layout methods. By using the technology to virtually simulate the aeroelastic behaviour of sails and up-wind sailing conditions, it is possible to compare alternative fibers and layouts and develop the optimal fiber layout on the real sail shape.

Click here to find out more.

Future Developments

The  company’s core technology was developed by Dr. Sabrina Malpede during her Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, which was started in 1997.  Since then, the technology has been continuously updated and enhanced by adding the possibility to consider the interaction between sail and mast.

The company is today looking to take  things a step further, by investigating an optimal way to integrate sail design with mast and yacht design!

Look out for more information on our news page as the development project unfolds.