In this section are articles which cover both the maintenance of sails, and the trimming of them to give you the best results from your Elvstrom Sails.
Care
With specialised articles on UV and Mildew, there is little need to stress further that these are very important. UV damage permanently changes your sail’s strength and resilience, and must be prevented as much as is possible. Whilst there are materials available that can screen UV, and prevent damage, these are expensive. For most of us, the most economic choice is to take really good care to avoid UV getting to the sail however we can.
Mildew is unsightly and even if it causes no damage to the structure of the sail, it is something that we all would prefer not to see on our sails. There are steps we can take as sailmakers, and we do. But there is a limit, and like anti-fouling, lasts only so long. Good preventative measures, in the long term, help the most.
Care of our sails goes beyond these two (important) issues. Chafe damage will happen, and needs repaired as soon as possible to prevent further, more serious damage. Putting sail-repair tape over it is a very easy and useful way of dealing with chafe which can be done in-situ.
Using the leechline to stop fluttering is essential – more repair work is done on this every year than any other single cause.
Trim
Trimming sails, and any articles written on the subject often leads to highly technical discussions on angles and cambers. Whilst this is true, and you will find them on in the TRIM GUIDE tab above, here are some simple rules for all. Surely, whatever your boat, there is a joy in making the very most of what it can do?
There are some basic things we can do, that add the most speed, windard ability and comfort. Battens should be in properly, with the correct tension – neither too much or too little.
Make the sails full in light airs, and flatter in more wind.
Use the backstay – more in more wind - it helps both main and jib at the same time.
Sheet the sails hard when going to windward – often people are scared of this – can the sails take the load? And surely the boat will heel more.
The sails can take it, it is what they are designed for, and the initial heeling caused by the sails being sheeted in hard enough, is easily sorted – just point higher and the boat will feel better, and faster, and higher. As the wind gets stronger again, and the boat is heeling too much and will point no higher, then it is better to reef than ease the sheet – the reef allows you to sheet hard again, and windward ability is not lost. This applies to both the main and the genoa/jib. A few rolls in this headsail, and most boats feel better and more in control..... Read the Trim Guide under the TAB above for the full story......................
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