1. Putting Sails Away While Wet
One of the quickest ways to ruin a sail is to stow it while it’s still damp. Whether it’s from saltwater spray, rain, or dew, moisture trapped inside a sail bag creates the perfect breeding ground for mildew, especially in warm weather. It also promotes rot in natural fibres and delamination in laminated sails.
Let your sails dry fully before packing them away—even if it means laying them out at home later. If that’s not possible immediately, at least flake them loosely and air them out at the next opportunity.
2. Letting the Sails Flog
Flogging—when sails flap violently in the wind—isn’t just noisy and unsightly. It causes real damage. The fibres in the cloth break down, seams loosen, and the shape of the sail degrades, especially around the leech and head. It’s equivalent to taking sandpaper to your sail, over and over again.
Avoid leaving your sail luffing during hoists, drops or while motoring. Keep it under control with proper trim, and if necessary, douse it quickly rather than letting it beat itself to bits.
3. Allowing Chafe to Build Up
Sails are in constant contact with rigging, spreaders, and hardware—especially on longer passages. Repeated rubbing at the same spot leads to worn patches, which can quickly develop into holes. Chafe is often silent and invisible until the damage is already serious.
Inspect high-contact areas regularly. Apply anti-chafe patches or reinforcements where needed, and tape over anything sharp, such as split pins or turnbuckles. Prevention is much easier than repair.
4. Exposing Them to Prolonged Sunlight
UV rays are brutal. Even the most durable sailcloth will break down over time when left uncovered in strong sun. Colours fade, stitching weakens, and the material becomes brittle. While modern Dacron and laminated sails include UV protection, it’s not indefinite.
Whenever possible, use a sail cover or furling sock. For headsails on furlers, make sure the UV strip is intact and doing its job. Don’t assume your sail is UV-proof—check regularly, and refresh protective coatings if needed.
5. Folding or Stuffing Carelessly
Improper storage can cause lasting creases in the cloth, especially if sails are folded the same way each time. These folds weaken the fibres, distort the sail shape, and in time can split under load. Stuffing sails roughly into bags can cause similar issues, particularly with lightweight spinnakers.
Instead, flake your sails properly, or roll them loosely if storage space allows. Use sail bags that allow the cloth to breathe, and try not to compress sails more than necessary when not in use.
LOONG SAILS-UK LIMITED 