OneSails' CEO Dede de Luca interview
OneSails debuts in such a demanding oceanic race with no less than two teams: which are your fears and expectations?
OneSails’ 4T FORTE sails have been used in offshore transoceanic races since a few years now, we have completed a few Transat Jacques Vabre, Route du Rhum, Mini Transat and Sydney-Hobart with success. I’m confident in saying that we have very little to fear, and we expect our sails to be performing and reliable as they have been before.
What are the main differences between these sails and what we could call “standard” ones?
In reality, our standards are so high that the same sails the owner of a 60ft performance cruiser is getting could be used to sail around the world. The base formulation of the 4T FORTE flexible composite is the same for every sail, with its structural high modulus UHMWPE polyethylene fibre grid, which proved to be one of the toughest, durable and reliable materials when it comes to high stress and abuse.In the end, the only true differences compared to standard sails are in the finishing details, which here aim to the ease of use by a solo skipper, and extra protection against the prolonged abuse they will see for weeks on end in often prohibitive weather conditions.
OneSails is the first Italian brand challenging the other American, New Zealander and French sailmakers in this race.
While the brand and the technology are 100% made in Italy, OneSails is today a worldwide network with 53 representatives in 41 countries and five continents. Sails for the two Vendée Globe teams have issued from the collective work of an international team of designers, technicians and sailmakers from Italy, England, Finland and France. We are very proud of this.
Are you feeling under special observation by the sailing community?
OneSails, since its inception, has always been under special observation for the many innovations we have introduced, sometimes stimulating a sane competition between manufacturers, as well as more responsible choices from the customers, focusing more on the quality and inherent features of the product than on the sheer reputation of a brand name.We are approaching this challenge today with the only technology in the world which is ISO 14040 Life Cycle Assessment certified for lowest carbon footprint, and fully recyclable at the end of its life cycle, unlike products from our competitors which end up becoming special waste to be treated. In the end, I am sure we will most certainly be under special observation in this race, and after the happy end we trust in, we will be ready for yet another, even higher profile challenge for our brand, international network, and exclusive technology.