Cruising Keelboat and Multihull Sail Care is very simple and easy to follow. We recommend taking the below steps to ensure that your sails are consistently well cared for. If you have any questions, contact your local Ullman Sails loft.
On windy days it is best practice to hoist sails out of the full wind strength if possible.
Protect the mainsail from UV with a good cover when stored on the boom.
Don’t motor-sail with the mainsail flapping. Keep it trimmed and tack with the wind to avoid flapping.
Tension the leech lines sufficiently to stop the edge of the sail fluttering.
For furling headsails ease the luff tension when rolled between sailing days.
When reefing a furling headsail take the opportunity to bear away and take the reef in under reduced load. A smoother reef with less sail-damaging flogging will be accomplished.
Practice mainsail reefing so that it can be readily accomplished rather than allowing the sail to flog.
For slab-reefing mainsails, ensure that the reefed body of the sail is adequately secured. Don’t conduct a “flutter and impact” test with an unsecured body of a reefed mainsail.
Based on your sail’s materials you may want to take additional steps to properly care for your sail. Click below for sail care suggestions based on sail material:
