Innovations in sailing

The innovations in sailing that were presented at the Hiswa boat show in Amsterdam on 4 March 2008 are another milestone in a series of innovations developed by DSM for the Olympic Games in collaboration with NOC*NSF and the Dutch athletes.

The new 470 boat has been built using specially designed DSM composite laminates which has resulted in a very rigid construction at a minimal weight. This material has been developed based on the know-how gained in the construction of longer and stronger blades of large windmills. This construction ensures that the boat lies very solidly in the water in the choppy waves typical of the waters of Qingdao where the Olympic races will take place. This minimizes the loss of energy and mainitains the velocity of the boat.

The rigging of the Olympic boats is another important element in the innovation program of DSM and NOC*NSF. With the motto ‘only the best is good enough’ in mind, all Dutch boats that will compete for Olympic medals in August on the shores of Qingdao will be fitted with special lines with Dyneema® in the apt colors red-white-blue and orange. This is the best in rigging currently available in sailing. ( Press release).

Download: Sailing Fact sheet (PDF: 84 Kb)