Maintenance

Recommended use:

First of all, avoid to leave your sail flutter. This can be done by adjusting the clew and the leechline. Using your engine while you mainsail is hoisted will reduce it life expectancy and consequently it’s performance. Use your sail in the appropriate weather conditions is a great way to keep it in good shape unless you want the stitches and the fabric to get old prematurely.
Friction against spreaders and mast will also reduce life lentgh and even possibly tear up the material.

When your boat is docked, don’t forget to release tension on your sails who are left at work (halyards, sheets,…..Apply adhesive tape on all sharp corners (spreaders, any cutter pins, stanchion, turn buckle,…) All these pieces can damage your sails.

Storage and maintenance:

Protect your sails from U.V. when you don’t use them. The life expectancy of a sail can be measure in exposure time to the sun. The fabric can lose up to half of its strengh after only three month of constant exposure. Store your sails in their bags. Always cover your mainsail with its awning when you don’t use it and if your genoa is mount on a furler, be sure to have the right protection once it’s furled.

Dry your sails before storage. Moisture can cause mildew. Colors can fade on some spinnaker or gennaker nylon if stored damp. If your genoa is furled wet don’t tight it to much. Damp climates are known to accelerate mildew. Spray some disinfectant in your sail bag (e.g., Lysol®) before storage.
voile ferlée

Furl your sails, don’t crease them in the bags. Do not store your sails near heating sources. Store them in a well-ventilated area. On the boat, never store your sails in the engine room where they could be stained by gasoline or oil and suffer from excessive heat. Do not store them in your car trunk for the same reasons.

Cleaning:

Clean your sails each years before storage. Clean them with soft soap and a brush. Rinse and dry them well before storage. Remove stains as much as you can and spray with disinfectant. Never soak your sails in bleach.

Repair:

Bring your sails to your sailmaker for inspection and repair each year,
he knows exactly what to check. This inspection will avoid small rips to become big tears. You can repair small rips by yourself as long as they are not to close of the luff. They can be repair with dacron or at last with duck tape if really needed. Repair stitches on the leeché as soon as you can. Some other stitches are not as much important.
réparation

Conclusion:

If you follow these instructions, be sure that your sails will bring you pleasure for a long time.

N.B. These recommendations are from Bainbridge International Manufacturer. They are also the recommendations that Voilerie Air Terre Mer make to its customers.

Bon vent,
Gil Bourhis


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