New High-Tech Rope from Yale

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New High-Tech Rope from Yale

If you are shopping for new halyards, don’t miss the November issue of Practical Sailor. Just as we were putting the final edits on next months comprehensive review of running rigging, Tom Yale, of Yale Cordage, unveiled the companys new Ph.D. (Performance Handling Delivered) single-braid Spectra 1000/polyester line. Our test focuses on double-braid ropes, and Ph.D. is a single-braid product, but it appears to be an excellent contender for those who are looking to upgrade their running rigging. We look forward to testing it, and other single braids like it in the near future.

Technical Editor Ralph Naranjo filed this report from Annapolis, Md., where he was attending the U.S. Sailboat Show last weekend:

The ropes filament bundles have a unique polyester coating and the approach allows a Spectra-to-Polyester ratio of 85/15, much greater than the 60/40 ratio found in conventional double braids. Its supple, hockle-free, grippy feel has been a big hit with pro sailors who have been beta testing the line as main- and jib-sheet cordage. I tested the companys claim of a product that could be eye-spliced in under three minutes, and confirmed that a double-tuck-and-bury-the-core splice could be formed in less than three minutes, and that the braided and hollow core can be undone, even after it had been placed under load.

For a comprehensive comparison of the abrasion resistance of 24 different double-braid ropes see the November issue of Practical Sailor, available online next week.

Darrell Nicholson
Practical Sailor has been independently testing and reporting on sailboats and sailing gear for more than 50 years. Supported entirely by subscribers, Practical Sailor accepts no advertising. Its independent tests are carried out by experienced sailors and marine industry professionals dedicated to providing objective evaluation and reporting about boats, gear, and the skills required to cross oceans. Practical Sailor is edited by Darrell Nicholson, a long-time liveaboard sailor and trans-Pacific cruiser who has been director of Belvoir Media Group's marine division since 2005. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license, has logged tens of thousands of miles in three oceans, and has skippered everything from pilot boats to day charter cats. His weekly blog Inside Practical Sailor offers an inside look at current research and gear tests at Practical Sailor, while his award-winning column,"Rhumb Lines," tracks boating trends and reflects upon the sailing life. He sails a Sparkman & Stephens-designed Yankee 30 out of St. Petersburg, Florida. You can reach him by email at practicalsailor@belvoir.com.