25 Jul 2006

RIGGING MADE WITH DYNEEMA® SK78 GIVES VOLVO OCEAN RACE WINNERS A HIGH-TECH EDGE

New Dyneema® Grade Makes its Maiden Voyage Onboard ABN AMRO ONE and Pirates of the Caribbean

Making its debut in the round-the-world Volvo Ocean Race, new Dyneema® SK78 fiber from DSM Dyneema proved its superior performance under extreme conditions. The new grade of super-strong polyethylene was used in the running rigging of the two world-class yachts – ABN AMRO ONE and Pirates of the Caribbean – that finished first and second, respectively. Dyneema® SK78 fiber delivers improved stability under static loads for better performance and longer life in exceptionally demanding conditions such as the nine-month Volvo Ocean Race.

The Pirates of the Caribbean entry in the Volvo Ocean Race, The Black Pearl, was the first of the new class of Volvo Open 70 yacht designs to adopt running rigging made with Dyneema® SK 78, which the team used throughout the entire race. The ABN AMRO ONE team switched a portion of its boat’s rigging to the new material partway through the race.

Skipper Paul Cayard and his team of professionals were a late entry in the Volvo Ocean Race and had limited preparation time compared to the competition, therefore they relied on the expertise of suppliers, such as DSM Dyneema and Gottifredi Maffioli, who manufactured the Dyneema® SK78 based running rigging used on the Black Pearl, to achieve optimal performance. By working together and combining state of the art materials such as Dyneema® SK 78, the Pirates of the Caribbean were well prepared for the challenges they faced as they raced around the world.

Winning the final leg and finishing second overall in the Volvo Ocean Race, Cayard recognized the insight and support DSM Dyneema and Gottifredi Maffioli provided, 'Our success in the Volvo Ocean Race was a team effort. Working with expert suppliers such as Gottifredi Maffioli and DSM Dyneema gave us complete confidence in our running rigging throughout the Volvo Ocean Race,' said Cayard.

Roy Heiner, Technical Director of Team ABN AMRO, also commented: “In the extreme conditions of offshore races like the Volvo Ocean Race, small differences in material performance can determine the fine line between winning and losing. Team ABN AMRO has proven successful in combining the best hull design, best performance materials and a very talented team.”

Luigi Maffioli, Managing Director, Gottifredi Maffioli, said: “The partnership between the Pirates of the Caribbean, DSM Dyneema and our company has paid off in this race and we are looking forward to new market-driven innovations in the future.”

Bill Fretwell of Australian/New Zealand rope manufacturer Donaghys - Southern Ocean Ropes was responsible for the rigging supplied to the ABN AMRO ONE yacht and commented, “The new Dyneema® SK78 enables us to manufacture lines for running rigging that meet the needs of the most demanding sailing teams.”

While preserving the highest strength-to-weight ratio, high modulus and resistance to abrasion and chemicals of other Dyneema® grades, the new material adds improved creep performance. This property results in better performance and extended service life. Ropes made from Dyneema®, already widely used for many years in yachting, are 30 to 40 percent lighter than aramid ropes of the same strength and only half the weight of polyester ropes. In addition to use in halyards and sheets, Dyneema® SK78 can be used in backstays and standing rigging for performance cruisers.

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Notes for editors

About DSM Dyneema

DSM Dyneema is the inventor and manufacturer of Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™. Dyneema® is a superstrong polyethylene fiber that offers maximum strength combined with minimum weight. It is up to 15 times stronger than quality steel and up to 40% stronger than aramid fibers, both on weight for weight basis. Dyneema® floats on water and is extremely durable and resistant to moisture, UV light and chemicals. The applications are therefore more or less unlimited. Dyneema® is an important component in ropes, cables and nets in the fishing, shipping and offshore industries. Dyneema® is also used in safety gloves for the metalworking industry and in fine yarns for applications in sporting goods and the medical sector. In addition, Dyneema® is also used in bullet resistant armor and clothing for police and military personnel. Dyneema® is produced in Heerlen (The Netherlands) and in Greenville, North Carolina (U.S.A.). DSM Dyneema is also a partner in a high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) manufacturing joint venture in Japan. Further information on DSM Dyneema is available at www.dyneema.com.

About DSM

DSM is active worldwide in nutritional and pharma ingredients, performance materials and industrial chemicals. The company creates innovative products and services that help improve the quality of life. DSM's products are used in a wide range of end markets and applications such as human and animal nutrition and health, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, automotive and transport, coatings, housing and electrics & electronics (E&E). DSM's strategy, named Vision 2010 - Building on Strengths, focuses on accelerating profitable and innovative growth of the company's specialties portfolio. Market-driven growth, innovation and increased presence in emerging economies are key drivers of this strategy. The group has annual sales of over EUR 8 billion and employs some 22,000 people worldwide. DSM ranks among the global leaders in many of its fields. The company is headquartered in the Netherlands, with locations in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.

Dyneema® is a registered trademark of Royal DSM N.V.