| wash the mainsail which had become home to a | | | | difference the first time you hank on following your |
| family of nesting starlings a few weeks previously. | | | | washing. |
| You can understand that in a short space of a few | | | | You can of course have your sails washed |
| weeks they had made quite a mess. Fortunately, | | | | commercially, but it is good to do this job yourself as |
| the mixture of nesting material and droppings lodged | | | | part of your ongoing boat maintenance programme |
| in the flake of the sail, washed away quite easily. | | | | and becoming familiar with your boat and what needs |
| There was virtually no breeze at the time, so we | | | | to be done regularly. You will also gain satisfaction |
| were able to hoist the main and shake a good deal | | | | from completing another job yourself. |
| of it out. With the water from the dock and a soft | | | | For more stubborn stains such as grease, rust etc. |
| brush the remainder came away without any | | | | there are a number of cleaning agents available - be |
| additional cleaning agent - it could have been much | | | | sure to read all instructions carefully and never be |
| worse! | | | | heavy handed for fear of damaging the sail fibres - |
| As the main was up we hosed down both sides of | | | | better to try it gently two or three times than scrub |
| the rest of the sail, bringing it back to an almost new | | | | the life out of the sail! |
| appearance. If time had permitted we should have | | | | Always rinse thoroughly after applying any cleaning |
| dropped it completely, removed it from the boat and | | | | agent |
| washed it thoroughly on the dock. | | | | We are talking about polyester(Dacron) sails here, |
| Washing of your sails regularly is an important | | | | which for cruising sailboats is still the main fabric of |
| component of your sail maintenance. | | | | choice used today. For more high tech sail fabrics |
| Salt builds up over time in the weave of the fabric | | | | such as Kevlar, Mylar etc. more sophisticated |
| and being hygroscopic it alternatively absorbs | | | | methods and cleaning agents may be required. |
| moisture, then crystalises hard when dry. This action | | | | You can go to Doyle Sailmakers website for more |
| over time will shorten the life of your sails, particularly | | | | detailed information and cleaning agents that may be |
| when you add flaking(main) and rolling(genoa) into the | | | | used. |
| equation. Along with ultra violet rays, these are the | | | | We spent half an hour or so cleaning and washing |
| two worst enemies of your sails. In addition, salt | | | | the sail that day and then set off for a days sailing |
| encrusted sails are harder to handle – this | | | | on the fantastic waters of southern Victoria - time |
| becomes more evident when you are up in the bow | | | | well spent. |
| changing a sail with the boat pitching all over the | | | | At the end of your sailing day ensure all sails are |
| place! | | | | flaked/rolled carefully and covered. Any un-hanked |
| Hence, washing them down with fresh water | | | | sails are taken off onto the dock and folded neatly |
| periodically(read regularly) rinses out the salt and | | | | into their sailbag. This is also a good time to wash |
| leaves them both feeling and looking fresh - your sails | | | | them down making sure they are dry before folding |
| will love this little bit of tlc. and you will notice the | | | | again. |