Cuben Fiber

No, it doesn't come from Cuba. The original Cuben Fiber first came to the market in 1992, with the win of the America's Cup by America3. The name comes from a shortening of the term America Cube Fiber. In 1997, the company began improving on the material that had won the America's cup and has been turning out top-level sail cloth ever since. In 2007, North Marine Group bought Cuben Fiber Corporation. Since its inception in the early 1990's, Cuben Fiber has proven to be one of the strongest and most durable materials out there, with an amazing rip-stop performance and very little stretch. On top of that, a Cuben fiber sail will generally weigh up to 20-40% less than an identical sail made of Kevlar. Of course, due to its great performance and obvious benefits, Cuben Fiber is one of the most expensive materials on the market.

Check out their website for an extensive photo gallery.