By far, the most exciting new sail material is carbon fiber. In the marine industry, this material is widely used for racing boats, such as those that compete in the America Cup. Carbon fiber is versatile enough to be used in the construction of both rigid structures like hulls and slender sails. Compared to other materials, carbon fiber has an exceptionally high strength-to-weight ratio. It has been tried and tested in various contexts and doesn't stretch or degrade quickly.