a composite sail is provided which is fabricated from a series of panels each of which is joined to an adjacent panel . the individual panels comprise laminates of two outer layers between which is an inner layer comprising a weft - free warp of strands of a stretch resistant polymer aligned substantially in the direction of the longitudinal dimension of the panel . one of the outer layers can itself be a laminate of at least two layers of material between which is disposed a non - woven , force - bearing thread material aligned along the principal stress lines experienced by the panel when incorporated in the sail . in a particular embodiment one outer layer is comprised of a plurality of individual segments joined together along abutting edges , each of the segments being formed from a reinforced sheet having a layer of weft - free warp of strands of a stretch resistant polymer . the individual segments in the panel may have differing strand denier density the segments in the leech of the sail having greater such density than those in the luff .