| Quick action is called for when you spot damage to | | | | weakening and delamination. The moments before |
| one of your sails. If it's the headsail, you should | | | | the start of a yacht race are filled with the rattling |
| change to a different sail so that the tear or | | | | noise of sails whose skippers are desperately trying |
| delamination doesn't spread. If it's the mainsail, you | | | | to lose wind and keep on the correct side of the |
| may be able to reef to take the strain off the | | | | starting line. |
| damaged area. As most yachts carry only one main, | | | | Similar damage may be caused by leech flutter so |
| which will be reefed and unreefed many times during | | | | the leech lines on both the mainsail and the headsail |
| an offshore voyage or coastal passage, how you | | | | should be adjusted to remove it, but not tightened |
| handle damage to it is very important. | | | | so much that the leech hooks, which will kill air flow |
| Where spinnakers are concerned, quick action is | | | | over the sail. |
| definitely called for. In one Sydney-Hobart race when | | | | Both the main and the genoa should have spreader |
| we ran for over 24 hours, we noticed a small hole in | | | | patches -- extra strong material that protects the sail |
| our spinnaker. Before we could drop the kite, the | | | | from damage when it's against the spreaders. For the |
| hole had become a tear and then blew out leaving | | | | genoa this will be when hard on the wind, for the |
| tapes and fabric. In this case the sail was old, | | | | main when running. |
| probably due for replacement but, perhaps, a more | | | | The other risk to your genoa is carrying it beyond its |
| observant crew may have seen the hole sooner. | | | | maximum recommended wind strength. This, |
| Spinnakers must also be protected from small wire | | | | together with over-tightening the halyard or sheet, |
| snags on headsail halyards, the forestay and shrouds | | | | will stretch the sail out of shape and make it less |
| -- i.e. anything sharp the sail may come in contact | | | | efficient. |
| with. | | | | As most of us can't afford new sails every year or |
| Flogging of the mainsail and/or headsail -- whether jib | | | | two, caring for our sails is a good way to keep us |
| or genoa -- should be avoided. It is a major cause of | | | | out on the water. |