Hampidjan's DYNICE - The Icelandic Rope that Roared
by Richard Gladwell on 30 Apr 2010
Neville Crichton’s supermaxi Alfa Romeo makes extensive use of DYNICE where a lightweight, very strong and flexible rope is required. Richard Gladwell
www.photosport.co.nz
In recent days, Iceland is more in the news for its volcanoes than its rope. And certainly not for an innocuous piece of grey rope, even if it is stronger than steel for a fraction of the weight.
Founded back in 1934 Hampidjan has spread beyond the Icelandic shores to become one of the largest fishing gear and super rope manufacturers in the world, having 14 business entities in four continents with over 600 employees.
Like many successful products, a technology developed for one purpose can often be adapted for another.
Hampidjan's DYNICE, a rope developed for the Icelandic fishing industry, has a very good use on yachts, where a high strength, light and flexible rope is required.
What started out as piece of fishing kit in the freezing cold Icelandic fishing grounds, aboard boats built for functionality and seaworthiness, now graces the decks and rigging of supermaxis and racing yachts as they sail and race the glamorous regatta circuits of the world.
More commonly seen on top racing yachts such as the super maxi Alfa Romeo, America’s Cup yachts and the like, the light grey rope (it can be made in any colour) has applications on all sizes of yacht.
'DYNICE is a top of the range product and is certified by Lloyd’s Register and DNV', explains Hampidjan NZ’s Managing Director, Karen Culley.
'DYNICE has been in the market for many years and we’ve had it used on Emirates Team New Zealand, Alfa Romeo and other top race boats. But the brand name DYNICE hasn’t got to the top of people’s lists. If people are contemplating looking for a synthetic alternative to wire, DYNICE is what they should be thinking about. '
DYNICE 75 is a revolutionary product of new synthetics technology, developed by Hampidjan from Dyneema synthetic fibres, it is produced as a 12-strand braided rope and is treated with Duracoat or Polyurethane for protection and resilience. DYNICE Dux 75 is the pre-stretched version with ultra high breaking strength. DYNICE Dux overbraided with Dyneema for extra protection, is ideal for use in furling applications on standing rigging.
With no sprags, light weight and easy to handle, it can be used for steering cables, backstays and other applications that need high strength, low stretch and greater durability than Vectran. Fitted with a protective cover DYNICE Dux is used for main and headsail halyards - especially on big race and cruising boats, as well as afterguys and asymmetrical tack lines to control the big downwind sails.
The use of DYNICE has spread inland. 'It’s a very good product – with many applications,' she explains.
DYNICE is highly regarded for helicopter lifting gear and four wheel drive ropes worldwide in both civilian and military applications.
One of the more unusual places where DYNICE is used, is on the Clyde Dam spill way in Otago. Contact Energy use DYNICE to lift the big gates up to control water levels behind their dam. It has four gates each weighing 117 tonnes, which are 10 metres wide and 14 metres high. The replacement of 44mm steel ropes with DYNICE took place in 2008, and a 35mm DYNICE rope is used (43mm with the protective covering) – a longer rope life and less abrasion on the gates, were the primary reasons for the change from wire to DYNICE.
DYNICE has been used in wind and kite sailing where light weight and high strength are required. Peter Lynn Kites in Ashburton choose DYNICE for the rigging on their reknowned range of kites and kite buggies. In 2009 Steve Gurney covered 2500 kilometres of desert from Morocco to Senegal with fellow kite enthusiasts Craig Hansen of Ashburton, and Australians Geoff Wilson and Garth Freeman using a Peter Lynn kite-buggy rigged with DYNICE.
Peter Lynn’s Power Kite was used in a jeep lifting exercise in the desert, and all rigging on the kite was made from Hampidjan DYNICE products.
The properties of DYNICE are quite remarkable.
Karen Culley takes up the story – 'Resistance to ultraviolet light and resistance to chemicals is second to none. We often have people enquiring as to whether or not DYNICE is suitable for their particular application. For example we recently had an enquiry from one of the power companies asking how DYNICE would stand up to 220,000 volts.' No problem.
DYNICE floats on water. The rope has a higher breaking strength than that of steel wire of the same thickness, but only one-eighth (12.5%) of the weight and is much easier to handle.
Splicing DYNICE is relatively easy. The www.hampidjan.co.nz website shows two methods – each quite different from conventional laid rope. 'We often show customers how to splice the DYNICE – it only takes a couple of minutes.' Depending on the required application the rope can be finished with a soft eye or a stainless steel thimble.
Because of the process of impregnation with Duracoat/Polyurethane there is no problem with fraying. The cut end is just fine. And unlike wire, DYNICE can be cut with a very sharp knife.
Compactness is another great property of DYNICE. As it is very strong, the diameter can be reduced over its wire equivalent. The coiled line is quite small in volume, making it easy to put in a bag and keep in a handy place. This compact property is particularly useful for helicopters, tow ropes and as a winch rope on a boat trailer.
Wairarapa Gliding Club describe the reasons for their switch to 5mm DYNICE, 'Its breaking strain is about two tonnes and its weight is one eighth (12.5%) that of steel wire of an equal breaking strain', says a testimonial from the Club. 'This one km length was added to the wire on the winch. The club pilots were amazed at the way the glider climbed away during the launch. This was largely due to the much lighter weight of the DYNICE cable. With wire it was adding an extra 200 kg of weight to the aircraft when we were already filling the cockpits with two bulky pilots. '
Yes, DYNICE certainly is a remarkable rope.
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