Domestic technical textiles Industry Segment-wise consumption of ...

Sail cloth
Sail is a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a
sailing vessel. Sails were used for in every type of boats before the advent of motorized boats. In the
modern times, the sails are used in sailing boats, yachts for sports and recreational purpose.
Product description
Earlier, sails were made from flax (linen), hemp or cotton in various forms including canvas.
However, modern sails are rarely made from natural fibers. Most sails are made from synthetic fibers
ranging from low-cost nylon or polyester to expensive aramids or carbon fibers.
The cotton canvas sails tend to wear out faster and are not capable of achieving high sail speeds. They
also tend to be more bulky compared to sails made of polyester and polyamides as they have a higher
strength to weight ratio.
Market Dynamics and key growth drivers
The usage of sail cloth is primarily in the following segments:
• Luxury yachts
The demand of luxury yachts in India is still to catch up. They have a huge potential for
leisure tourism as is the case in the developed countries.
• Sporting sail boats
Sailing as a sport is yet to catch up in India. The Yachting Association of India (YAI) is
promoting the sport in the country, developing and training judges, umpires and other
administrators of the sport and representing the sailors in all matters concerning the sport. The
YAI is also officially recognized by the Indian Olympic Association and the Ministry of
Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India as the governing authority for sailing,
windsurfing, motor boating, powerboat racing and personal watercraft, at sea and on inland
waters in India. There are around 40 clubs affiliated to YAI, spread across various parts of the
country like the Kerala Yachting association, Tamil Nadu Sailing Association, etc.
The sporting sail boats use modern sail cloths which are made from synthetic fibres. The
sporting sails boats are categorized into various classes. There are 14 class associations
affiliated to YAI, ranging from the smallest, the Optimist Dingy, to the largest, the J 24 class.
The fabric requirement is dependent on the type of class.