Do you cover a wet sail?

[nightowle]

After sailing this weekend in Puget Sound my sails are wet from rain (what else is new?! )

Last year, I spent a fair amount of dinero on cleaning and reconditioning my genoa. As it's a hank on setup, I regularly use a bag that allows me to cover it but keep it hanked on deck. We got a lot of rain in the fall when I was away, and the sail got some mold spot discoloration that I'm not happy about. I do make a habit of taking the sails off the boat in the off season.

Leaving the boat today, I decided to leave the sail on deck to dry out, as well as leave my mainsail uncovered for the same purpose. I'll go back to the boat during the week and cover up the main and the genoa or take it off the boat if further rain is forecast.

What do you folks do? Cover a wet sail when leaving the boat.......or????

Just trying to keep my sails clean, but also have the convenience of being ready to sail without hanking on a sail each time. (Yes, I know roller furling would remedy this dilemma somewhat).

[puddinlegs]

loosely flaked down below with the dehumidifier blazing away if I can't get back to the boat for a day or two. We're not that large a boat, so though it's easier to leave sails on, I don't other than an old main. At some point you'll have to get salt out of the sails... fresh water+hose, then hoist and dry... lot's of days during the summer on Puget Sound that are good for a wash/hoist/unfurl and dry. Everything turns green in the PNW if left alone.

[ulferlingsson]

The foresail should not stay up, since water will enter the bag. The main can stay with a proper cover. But it won't dry... you'll have to raise it to dry as soon as weather permits.

[Stiche]

Originally Posted by puddinlegs

... lot's of days during the summer on Puget Sound that are good for a wash/hoist/unfurl and dry.

Clearly, you have either 1) Not cruised up here yet this year, or 2) Been inside a building with no windows all June.

[AdamLein]

I frequently sail in the rain, cover/bag the sails, and come back one or two days later to dry the sails out in the sun.

Typically the main is already dry, but the hank-on jibs, stowed below, tend to stay damp for a while. This is bad for them; get them clean and dry ASAP.

[DwayneSpeer]

I regularly cover my mainsail after a rain (a rare event) and uncover it later after it stops but then I live on the dry side.

[nightowle]

thanks for the replies. I guess I'll have to make sure to be back at the boat to dry out the sails when the rain stops.

[puddinlegs]

Originally Posted by Stiche

Clearly, you have either 1) Not cruised up here yet this year, or 2) Been inside a building with no windows all June.

Believe me, I know painfully well this year. It's been ugly, eh? We're usually out in some form or the other around 3 days a week for most of the year (except the crappiest and coldest of the middle of the winter/early spring.. but go figure, that's when there's racing to be done around here) and keeping things dry is really tough. One word: dehumidifier!

[L124C]

Originally Posted by puddinlegs

One word: dehumidifier!

What dehumidifier do you use?