First Haul Out

[JPA Cate]

FWIW, I've heard the recommendation that you fresh water rinse down the sails before you let 'em dry and pack 'em up for the winter. Of course, if your sailing is on fresh water only, this may not apply to you at all! The reason for it is to get rid of the salt which attracts moisture and mildew.

It's pretty easy to flake the sail down onto the dock if there are two of you. Start with the foot, pull it straight at the tack and clew, then watch each other, and maintaining tension on the sail, fan fold it till you have something long and flat with the head of the sail down there, too. With the head sail, we try to make our flakes come out so that the luff rope is close to the front of the folds, to make it easier to load back up the furler slot. Then fold it up, from clew to tack, secure with a sail tie, and pop it in its bag. (That's how we do it, anyway.) This time of sail removal gives you a chance to inspect the stitching, and if there's broken stitches, you can mend the sail, or plan to take it to the sailmaker.

Ann

[Prism]

How do you get around the Lazy Jacks when you're flaking the sail? or do you not have any?

[onestepcsy37]

Originally Posted by Prism

How do you get around the Lazy Jacks when you're flaking the sail? or do you not have any?

Lazy jacks are usually set up so they can be lowered.