Glad to hear that, Centerline. I've been "trying" to keep mine folded, and every time I do, I wonder why am I doing this. Brand new ones, sure. But folding well-worn sails seems like such a waste of perfectly good OCD.
everyone has their own type and degree of OCD
....
folding a sail does have its benefits, but its not the determining factor in longevity.
I have met friends and neighbors at the marinas that I have been at in the last couple of years who think we are hardcore boaters/sailors, because we are always on the water and doing our thing, while they find its too much trouble to get out there like we do...
they complain about the time it takes to put the boat away and folding the sails all nice and neat, and how much work for so little time spent relaxing...
i have met people who have a tough time getting the jib down and stowed because they dont want to wrinkle it.... it has to be stored rolled up rather than folded. a PITA!!
I dont have problems like that.
both of our boats are good looking and well tended to and cared for, and as we dont race, I see no need for trying to preserve a sail in pristine condition without any wrinkles.
as as much as it gets used, its not going to make it last that much longer anyway, for the type of sailing we do..
my OCD time is spent in other areas of boat care and maintenance.
In the same way some people may be a proponent of saying a sail is being damaged as it sets wadded in its bag, it can equally be said that the sail is safer and is being damaged less wadded up in the bag than it is flying on the boat, because of the wear factor and the sunlight, which is more damaging than a wrinkle or even a few wrinkles. although if it sets flaked and folded in a bag and never sees the sun or any chafe, it WILL undoubtedly remain wrinkle free and last a long long time.
so if I use my wadded up and wrinkled old sail 70% more than a boat owner who folds and flakes theirs, who is to say which sail is giving its owner the best service and how do you judge the active enjoyed lifespan of each?
BUT, i will agree if the sail is wadded in the bag, and then is allowed to flop around in the boat and have people laying on it, then "refluffed" so it makes a better cushion or mattress, that is BAD and is damaging to it..
the way a sail is allowed to flog when headed into the wind, or how its allowed to fly against the shrouds/spreaders when running broad, or how it gets inspected and repaired timely, or where and when its used and the amount of direct sun, and the general handling of the sails is much more important in sail longevity than how a general purpose sail sets in its bag.
in my opinion...
its really more a matter of how often you use the sail that determines the way it can be stored.
a wet sail overnight or for a couple of days is no issue at all, but if it is going to be stored away for quite awhile, then it should be dried out...
and even this can vary. in the moderate climate i live in, a wet sail could be stored a couple weeks without worry of mildew, but some areas it may mildew within a a day or two...
light mildew doesnt hurt the sail, other than makes it ugly and its usually permanent.
if wadding the sail in a bag vs flaking and folding is the difference in the amount of enjoyment and usage you get from the boat, I say go with a bit less worry about the sails and maximize your enjoyment and relaxation... because thats what your pleasure boat is really supposed to be about
.
