Sails

[B Kropf]

Want to know how most sailors store their sails? Do you uses a stuff bag or take time to fold them, that takes a lot of space. Any ideas what works and what doesn't? How big of bag does it take?

thanks
ben

 

[BobM]

Just folded my main sail (9.2A). Yes it takes quite a bit of room, but is amazing how small it folded up, especially as it is only a few years old an very stiff. It fit into the sailbag with room to spare. I probably could have fit it into a kitchen sized trash bag. What I don't do that I should do is rinse them off before doing so. Weather-wise it never works out for me. I never have the sails home in time to have the weather to rinse and dry them before folding. I always think about it in the spring, but somehow never do it then either because I am struggling to get her in the water before the 4th of July.

 

[Calypso]

We fold them and use a sail bag. They do fit so much better in a small space.

 

[BobM]

Folding is easy once you have the space. Perhaps you can take it to a local school gym. Alternately, I have thought about raising it partially using a block as I have an area in my home that is two stories. Also, with no wind I was able to flake the 135 onto the deck well enough to stow it into the bag. You just need someone else to lower it slowly while you keep tension on it and impart the flaking. I tried flaking my main on the boom (fairly easy to do on a smaller boat by starting at the back, pulling on the sail and imparting the flakes...bit tougher on a 35 footer), tying it in multiple places (it is loose footed) and then sliding it off. It would probably work well for an older main, but mine is only a few years old.

Lay it out on a clean surface. Fold up up the bottom about 18 inches then start flaking it in similar lengths until you get to the headboard. I had socks on and found that walking back and forth to smooth the folds worked well. Frequent neatening of your flakes is necessary too. One extra fold at the top to put the headboard inside the bundle then start at the luff and just roll it up tightly.

 

[BobT]

I have spread them in the yard easily enough, then starting at the foot, pull the sail down to flake with one person at the luff and one at the leach. Then roll/fold the flaked stack. This year the jib was so bird dirty from being the last boat in the mooring field that I just stuffed both sails in the bags and dropped them at the loft to be cleaned. I believe he charges $0.41 per square foot. Or about $75 for my main.

 

[Jim11240]

Extend your whisker pole and roll the sail up around the whisker pole, then store it in the cabin.

Jim