Cruising Sailors Forum Archive
The secret is to leave it loosely flaked. 
In Response To: What's the alternative? ()
With the Dutchman, you don't need sail ties. Just leave the sail loosely flaked, as it fell on the boom, and cover it. Martin Van Breems also owns Sound Sailing Center and his fleet of 20 boats of varying ages all have Dutchmans (of course). There is no shortening of lifespan of the mainsails.
Messages In This Thread
- Out of curiousity, how many here flake their mainsails?
- I do.
- Not flaking my main would be like putting my pants on over two snow snowsuits.
- Always
- Looks like I'm in good company here, I do it religiously... (grin)
- I was always told the best way is to "roll" the sail like a sausage. It will extend the life. (I flake my main)
- What's the alternative?
- The secret is to leave it loosely flaked.
- The secret is to leave it loosely flaked.
- Never...
- Same here
- We do with exceptions & compromise.
- Nice looking Main flake ! Mine looks like that. I'm with Max, always, and we don't have
- Nope for the reason Jon mentioned
- Always. The crew complains bitterly!
- Never
- I never did.
- I do a partial flake...
- Not if the slide spacing is right.
- My lower slugs are on a jackline so you can flake the lower sail area.
- Not if the slide spacing is right.
- Always
- Always.
- I have lazy jacks and flake my main...
- I do
- Kinda
- First flake to port.
- Not possible on my boat....
- I always flake. On my small main it's easy even by myself.
- Never. Just dump into the lazy jacks, throw a few sail ties around and go!
