Advice from North Sails
When it’s time to winterize your sails, there are a few things you can do to ensure their longevity. Patrick Mazuay, designer at North Sails, shares his advice on how to make the most of winter to ensure the good health of your sails.
“Our first instinct is not to leave our sails on station. Covers offer protection, but not complete protection. You’ll have less dunnage and the sails won’t be exposed to the elements. Removing them helps preserve your boat. If you’ve got bits you’d like to keep, don’t hesitate to send them by messenger – you’ll also increase their lifespan.
When storing your sails, be sure to inspect their condition. Pay particular attention to fabrics, sliders, batten pockets, bolt ropes, halyard and clew points. As in health, prevention is better than cure! That’s why your sailmaker can offer you a storage and inspection service at very reasonable rates. This allows you to keep a constant eye on your sails and, if necessary, plan repairs or reinforcements over the winter.
If you store your sails on your boat or at home, be sure to dry them before folding them carefully. Don’t store your sails just anywhere, for example in the cellar or attic of your country house, as mice could get through! At North, we don’t have rodent problems! Among other things, we offer inspection and storage during the winter following the purchase of a sail. The first inspection is important, as it allows us to check for areas of wear due to chafing that may not have been anticipated at the design stage. Additional wear reinforcements are then fitted, for example to the shrouds, spreaders or balcony. If these problems are tackled in good time, sails can last much longer.
Autumn is also a good time to take stock of your sails with your sailmaker. It’s a time when I design a lot of new sails. I try to get the essentials done before Christmas, so that the workshops are full over the winter period, and the new sails are ready for spring. This allows us to group orders together, so we can offer interesting promotions to our customers at this time.
If you are ordering a new sail, remember to contact your sailmaker before dismasting, as this makes it much easier to take measurements and better anticipate your rig’s settings. When, finally, you dismast your boat, don’t forget to install marks on your standing rigging so you can find the same settings the following season.”
Patrick Mazuay
Patrick Mazuay’s background is characterized by his experience of major challenges. A seasoned racer, he began his career with North Sails France in 1989, and quickly became involved in the America’s Cup. First with the French challenge in 1995, then with Alinghi from 2003 to 2010. A key figure in North Sails’ history, he was involved in the development of the sails for the legendary Alinghi 5, and in the development of 3DL technology, the precursor of 3Di.