After 9 great seasons our beautiful North 3dl main was showing signs of giving up the ghost. The sail had served is very well and it still held its shape but uv was beginning to take its toll. We were not looking forward to replacing this expensive sail and had decided to try for one more year when an almost unused 3dl became available for short money. Seems the person who had ordered the sail didn't like that the roach touched the back stay and wanted a different sail. One thing I will give to North is that when things do go wrong they respond.

Our Sabre has a tall carbon rig so the otherwise almost new sail could not be used without modification but they proposed a solution that was pretty interesting for about 30% the cost of a new one. In order to get the sail to fit our rig, North molded up a new bottom panel that would replace the area up to the first reef. The sail will definitely be a huge improvement and the price was right so we jumped. You will be able to spot the new sail easily as between the time North built the sail and the new panel they changed some of the materials they use in a Marathon sail so it will have a decidedly "Frankenstein" look about it (grayish white for the lower 1/3 yellowish white for the top 2/3's).

Anyway, we also learned that North recommends that sail covers be changed after about 2 seasons due to the fact that the Sunbrella begins loosing its uv blocking properties. The bulk of the damage to our sail was uv damage too. We cover religiously but the cover was simply no longer doing its job...the cover looks fine but it was now about 6 years old and overdue... This brings me to whole cover question....

One thing I insist on is flaking the sail the same way every time it comes down. It is like a disease! If I can see a fold in the wrong place it drives me nuts! Flaking the sail on our boat is not always a pleasant experience. We use lazy jacks and that helps. After the sail is flaked we always drag the cover out and cover it. Between the huge bimini and the dodgers this is something of a pain too.

I was thinking that when we purchased a new main we would re-think this whole routine and now it is time....
I considered a Dutchman and finally gave up that idea due to the sail cover being similarly difficult to deal with and that brings me to something like a Stack Pack (North calls their version a QuickCover). I know it is kind of ugly but it does address a couple issues and it would be easier to use on a day to day basis....

One of the objectives is to make it easier thus removing the excuse to "go for a quick sail" when we are out cruising. I am getting lazy as I get older and somehow I think this may help.

Any thoughts?

Bruce