I was shown how to precisely fold my sails for my 16' Luger and told that
this is a must, but there are times when I don't have the space or time to
do this. How do people with larger boats fold their sails, especially when
underway? Don't they just shove them into the sail storage area and dry
them when they can? Just what are the issues involved with folding, vs.
stuffing, sails?
TIA for any information.

Padeen

One of the reasons for proper sail folding, aside from the obvious lifespan
factor, is good seamanship.

When a sail is folded correctly and still in the bag you should be able to
attach the Tack without removing the sail. (then it doesn't blow away of
course).

At this point the bag can be removed and the sail hanked on -then the sheets
added. It's all about keeping sails (and crew) on deck and out of the water.

The bigger the boat, the more important proper sail folding/handling is.
Imagine screwing around on the deck of a 40 footer in big seas trying to
find head vs tack vs clew. Now imagine doing it on a maxi. Scary!

DP



"padeen" wrote in message
...
I was shown how to precisely fold my sails for my 16' Luger and told that
this is a must, but there are times when I don't have the space or time to
do this. How do people with larger boats fold their sails, especially
when
underway? Don't they just shove them into the sail storage area and dry
them when they can? Just what are the issues involved with folding, vs.
stuffing, sails?
TIA for any information.

Padeen

"d parker" wrote:

The bigger the boat, the more important proper sail folding/handling is.
Imagine screwing around on the deck of a 40 footer in big seas trying to
find head vs tack vs clew. Now imagine doing it on a maxi. Scary!

DP

Imagine not folding your parachute carefully!

-k

Hey

You fold/flak/roll/pack your sails because you love your boat and you love
to sail. Its that simple, it is a must.
Wet sails not a big issue, dry at first chance. Nothing wrong with tossing
a wet sail in a locker, car or room and letting it dry and then pack.

Big boats or small - how you put your sails away depends if you race or
cruise.

Cruisers will fold sails unless they happen to have exotic materials then
they roll.
To fold on a big boat - toss sail on one side, grab tack & clue and fold on
the other side of the deck. Folds will be small and maybe irregular but it
works. Mains are flaked. Thanks to roller furling gear head sails are
rolled.

Race (big and small) boats will roll sails, this keeps the cloth from
creasing, breaking down and will hold its shape better over time
To roll on a big race boat ditto above but roll it. Mains may be rolled on
the boom starting at the head or taken off and rolled.
All rolled sails will have long sailbags.

Spinnakers are most often stuffed in their turtle (i.e. bag) and are later
repacked. Repacking is either flaking from the head down the leeches to the
clues or you sausage the chute and place breakable rubber bands the length
of the spinnaker. The spinnaker's head and clues are exposed outside the
turtle so you can attach halyards and sheets easily.

Lastly smart sailors will treat their sails with care. Dont work on them.
Dont bleed on them. Rinse off if in salt water. Keep covered for UV
protection. And mark the corners.

stu


"padeen" wrote in message
...
I was shown how to precisely fold my sails for my 16' Luger and told that
this is a must, but there are times when I don't have the space or time to
do this. How do people with larger boats fold their sails, especially
when
underway? Don't they just shove them into the sail storage area and dry
them when they can? Just what are the issues involved with folding, vs.
stuffing, sails?
TIA for any information.

Padeen

"WaterCrashr" wrote in message
...
"d parker" wrote:

The bigger the boat, the more important proper sail folding/handling is.
Imagine screwing around on the deck of a 40 footer in big seas trying to
find head vs tack vs clew. Now imagine doing it on a maxi. Scary!

DP

Imagine not folding your parachute carefully!

-k

Splat!

DP

Make sure you always fold it using the original creases. That way, after a
few years, you'll know where it's weakest.

I, too, sail a small boat so I don't know what the difficulties are with
bigger and heavier sails, but I've always just stuffed mine. Positioning
the tack for initial removal isn't really a problem. Stuffed loosely in a
bag large enough to hold the sail, and they'll dry just fine.

BKO

"d parker" wrote in message
. au...
One of the reasons for proper sail folding, aside from the obvious
lifespan
factor, is good seamanship.

When a sail is folded correctly and still in the bag you should be able to
attach the Tack without removing the sail. (then it doesn't blow away of
course).

At this point the bag can be removed and the sail hanked on -then the
sheets
added. It's all about keeping sails (and crew) on deck and out of the
water.

The bigger the boat, the more important proper sail folding/handling is.
Imagine screwing around on the deck of a 40 footer in big seas trying to
find head vs tack vs clew. Now imagine doing it on a maxi. Scary!

DP



"padeen" wrote in message
...
I was shown how to precisely fold my sails for my 16' Luger and told
that
this is a must, but there are times when I don't have the space or time
to
do this. How do people with larger boats fold their sails, especially
when
underway? Don't they just shove them into the sail storage area and dry
them when they can? Just what are the issues involved with folding, vs.
stuffing, sails?
TIA for any information.

Padeen

"padeen" wrote...
I was shown how to precisely fold my sails for my 16' Luger and told that
this is a must, but there are times when I don't have the space or time to
do this. How do people with larger boats fold their sails, especially when
underway? Don't they just shove them into the sail storage area and dry
them when they can? Just what are the issues involved with folding, vs.
stuffing, sails?

Folding sails is more space-efficient than stuffing. Also, for new sails,
folding will help preserve the "crispness" imparted by the sizing.

For larger boats/sails, folding may be impractical. Stuffing is quicker and
takes less work area.

What I experienced with big genoas it may be easier to keep sheet corner =
(clew) on the top, fixing the sheets first, and then un-roll the big =
stuff towards the bow to fix a tack.
You avoid going with big & heavy bag to the narrow & lifting in tha =
waves bow this way.
JaC

That's why socks are better for bigger boats.

DP
"666" wrote in message
...
What I experienced with big genoas it may be easier to keep sheet corner
(clew) on the top, fixing the sheets first, and then un-roll the big stuff
towards the bow to fix a tack.
You avoid going with big & heavy bag to the narrow & lifting in tha waves
bow this way.
JaC

But you have to fold this sock before stacking under the deck anyway?
JaC


That's why socks are better for bigger boats.