A transfer system for a composite material including: a nonwoven as carrier material and a textile layer of reinforcing fibers, wherein the reinforcing fibers consist of mono- or multifilaments or tapes and the carrier material is adhesively bonded to the layer of reinforcing fibers.

A multi-layer bladder construct consisting of a non-stretchable outer covering and a stretchable inner bladder. The outer covering has an inner surface and is made from woven polymer fibers having a warp direction and a weft direction. The inner bladder is made from a bi-axially oriented polymer film. The inner bladder has an outer surface area that is smaller than the inner surface area of the outer covering. Upon inflation, the inner bladder stretches and expands until the outer surface of the inner bladder engages the inner surface of the outer covering, whereby a portion of tensile force loading on the outer covering is shared with the inner bladder. A stretchable flexible film is incorporated into the inner bladder in at least one selected location. The stretchable flexible film has an elastic expansion range which is greater that the elastic expansion range of the remainder of the inner bladder.

Disclosed is a sail comprising a head, a tack, and a luff extending between the head and the tack; a luff region extending along the luff; wherein the luff region has a significantly higher degree of elasticity compared to the average elasticity of a remainder of the sail. Also disclosed is a method of making a sail comprising laying out material to form the sail; arranging material in a luff region of the sail and in the remainder of the sail such that in the direction of the luff, the luff region has a higher degree of elasticity compared to the remainder of the sail; curing or sewing the sail to form a cohesive structure.

A multi-layer bladder construct consisting of a non-stretchable outer covering and a stretchable inner bladder. The outer covering has an inner surface and is made from woven polymer fibers having a warp direction and a weft direction. The inner bladder is made from a bi-axially oriented polymer film. The inner bladder has an outer surface area that is smaller than the inner surface area of the outer covering. Upon inflation, the inner bladder stretches and expands until the outer surface of the inner bladder engages the inner surface of the outer covering, whereby a portion of tensile force loading on the outer covering is shared with the inner bladder. A stretchable flexible film is incorporated into the inner bladder in at least one selected location. The stretchable flexible film has an elastic expansion range which is greater that the elastic expansion range of the remainder of the inner bladder.

A transfer system for a composite material including: a nonwoven as carrier material and a textile layer of reinforcing fibers, wherein the reinforcing fibers consist of mono- or multifilaments or tapes and the carrier material is adhesively bonded to the layer of reinforcing fibers.

An integral sail to generate a propulsion following a thrust from the wind has an integral layered structure delimited externally by a first external layer and by a second external layer, both made with a smooth layer of thin and continuous film of flexible material. Furthermore, to each of said first external layer and second external layer at least a layer of parallel fibers, adjacent to each other, is associated internally with respect to the layered structure. The whole is made solid by means of at least a layer of thermofusible glue, disposed inside the external layers and in coordination with the corresponding layers of parallel fibers.

Boat sail of the membrane sail type consisting of two transparent plastic sheets between which are laid at least one network of reinforcing fibers, photovoltaic films and battens (8), featuring at least one zone (9) free of battens (8) and photovoltaic films, in the shape of a curvilinear triangle.

Disclosed is a sail comprising a head, a tack, and a luff extending between the head and the tack; a luff region extending along the luff; wherein the luff region has a significantly higher degree of elasticity compared to the average elasticity of a remainder of the sail. Also disclosed is a method of making a sail comprising laying out material to form the sail; arranging material in a luff region of the sail and in the remainder of the sail such that in the direction of the luff, the luff region has a higher degree of elasticity compared to the remainder of the sail; curing or sewing the sail to form a cohesive structure.

Disclosed is a sail comprising a head, a tack, and a luff extending between the head and the tack; a luff region extending along the luff; wherein the luff region has a significantly higher degree of elasticity compared to the average elasticity of a remainder of the sail. Also disclosed is a method of making a sail comprising laying out material to form the sail; arranging material in a luff region of the sail and in the remainder of the sail such that in the direction of the luff, the luff region has a higher degree of elasticity compared to the remainder of the sail; curing or sewing the sail to form a cohesive structure.

A method of manufacturing a sail body (3) for forming part of a wind assisted propulsion device (4), the method comprising the steps of: laying a first fabric (14), formed from first fibres, onto a mould (16) defining the shape of a part (2) of the sail body (3); laying a plurality of strips (22), formed from second fibres, onto a surface of the first fabric (14) such that at least some of the second fibres extend longitudinally along the sail body (3).