Coastal Boating, Sailing, Cruising, Yachting, Racing, Coastal, Sailboat, Yacht, Fleet, Club, Regatta, Commodore, One design, Social, Long Island Sound, Narragansett Bay, Buzzards Bay, Chesapeake Bay, Island, Seamanship, NE waters, NOAA, NWS

 

 

To wrap or not to wrap? – that should not be a question -
Preserving your headsail

Sails are an expensive part of a sailboats inventory, costing thousands apiece. As such, they warrant a modicum of due care and attention.

Wherever one goes, one will see boats where the headsail has been furled up with a triangle showing. It is assumed that there is some aesthetic reason for the skipper doing this. Then there is the lazy furling job. The headsail is furled, but the sheets are left loose.

A small boat in a body of water

Description automatically generated

Even though it may be thought to look good or perhaps seaman-like, the problem is that in either of these scenarios, the wind can and will catch the sail. It does not the even require a particularly strong wind for the headsail to become partially of even completely unrolled. The resulting flapping can and will cause catastrophic damage.

A small boat in a large body of water

Description automatically generated

In the case of the above boat, not only was the headsail completely shredded beyond repair, but the flogging headsail ripped the radar dome and steaming lights off the forward part of the mast.

A small boat in a body of water

Description automatically generated The alternative is, of course, to fully furl the headsail and then give it a few more turns, tightly wrapping the sheets around the headsail. With the furling line properly cleated and secured, the sheets can be pulled tight. The result is a secured headsail and a seaman-like look.

 

 

 

 

 

 



     
Joy of sailingCoastal Boating (Reg. in Ireland No. 443222) is a division of Knowledge Clinic Ltd.
Europe:
Port Aleria, Rosnakilly, Kilmeena, Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland - USA: PO Box 726, Mahwah, NJ 07430
All content on this site is subject to Copyright© - All rights reserved.
Contact us - Advertising - Privacy - Terms & Conditions - Copyright & Trademark - Webmaster