Method of producing reinforced, formed fabrics

A method of manufacturing a sail, comprising:

• providing a plurality of reinforcing elements, wherein the reinforcing elements are formed from filaments which are aligned;
• providing a resin in contact with the reinforcing elements;
• arranging the reinforcing elements and the resin to form a plurality of first strips and to form a plurality of second strips;
• arranging the plurality of first strips to partially overlap adjacent first strips, the plurality of first strips defining a sheet with an outer dimension;
• positioning the plurality of second strips on the sheet of first strips along a predicted line of force to which the sail will be subjected, wherein the second strips do not extend to or beyond the outer dimension of the sheet of first strips;
• placing the arranged strips on a surface;
• and
• forming a fabric of the sail by curing the resin of the strips such that the cured resin encases the reinforcing elements, wherein the fabric is without exterior layers of polymerized plastic sheets,
• wherein the sail includes at least a leech and a foot.

A method of manufacturing a sail, comprising:

• providing reinforcement elements comprising filaments;
• providing a resin in contact with the reinforcing elements;
• arranging the reinforcement elements and the resin into a plurality of first strips, a second strip, and a third strip;
• arranging the plurality of first strips on a surface so that at least some of the first strips partially overlap adjacent first strips, the plurality of first strips defining an outer dimension;
• positioning the second strip and the third strip along only a predicted line of force to which the sail will be subjected, and such that the second strip and the third strip do not extend to or beyond the outer dimension;
• and
• forming a fabric of the sail by curing the resin of the strips such that the cured resin encases the reinforcing elements,
• wherein the fabric of the sail consists essentially of the cured resin and the reinforcing elements, and wherein the sail includes at least a leech and a foot.