The British use ounces per square yard, and Continental Europe uses grams per square meter. Thus 1 oz. American equals 1.26 oz. British and 42.8 grams per square meter. Woven polyester can vary from a balanced weave where the yarns have equal strength in both warp and fill directions to an unbal-anced weave whose strength is concentrated in either the warp or fill direction.
Extra strength is created by having stronger or more yarns in the warp or fill direction.
Laminates More and more sailors are turning to laminated sailcloth because laminates are lighter for their strength than Dacron. Laminates also have superior shape holding ability. As the name implies, laminates all have some cloth or yarns glued to one or more layers of Mylar film. Laminates can be made with any of the yarns listed on the chart on the following page. The advantage laminates have over woven cloth is that the Mylar film reinforces in all directions.