How do I fold up my head sail?

[mickyp168]

Hi
Just bought a new set of sails so I want to look after them properly. I know there is a way to fold up the headsail and bag it so that when you take it out on the foredeck you can attach the bottom hank to the forestay then the second one and so on easily. I have looked on google and Youtube without success. My boat has a marina berth so I can lay the sail out fully on the dock. Grateful for any advice please!

Thanks
Mick

 

[MagicalArmchair]

Search on 'how to flake a headsail' and a few good links come up like this one

http://commutercruiser.com/how-to-flake-a-sail/

 

[andygc]

That way of folding a sail is fine for winter storage, but it doesn't meet the need in the question - to be easy to hank on.

I flake my headsail on the deck with all the hanks still on the forestay. In small flakes, like flaking the main on the boom. Then, on the fordeck just behind the forestay, pull it forward in a bundle to make folds like a looped caterpillar, the folds being a little smaller than the height of the bag. Try to end up with the clew up near the head of the sail. You then have a big sausage of sail. Slide the bag over the folded sail, stuffing as needed until only the hanks and the clew are still out of the bag. Take the sheets off, tuck the clew away. Start unhanking from the top, pushing the hanks into the bag as you go. If you find it difficult to start getting the bundle of sail into the bag, you can put a tie around it to keep the bundle together. I quite often leave the sail hanked on in the bag with sheets still attached if we're anchoring for lunch.

Might sound complicated, but my wife is neither a dedicated sailor nor strong, and she does it under way.

If you have taken it off completely, when you open the bag the tack's there ready with all the hanks following, and the clew pops out as the last couple of hanks clip on.

 

[Viking]

I agree with 'andygc' its so easy that way!

 

[PhillM]

Keep I hacked on, flake like a mainsail, untie sheets, roll up to forestry. Wrap sail tie round, remove hanks one at a time, then tie up.

Easy to put back on underway.

 

[mickyp168]

Thanks for all the advice I shall give it a go , practice will make perfect I hope!
Mick

 

[William_H]

For a smaller boat with hannk on jibs. I flake it either on deck or on the hard. If on the hard 2 people one on clew one on tack. The head of the sail goes down wind. Flake itwith appropriate sized folds. When flaked I just roll fold the sail from the clew end so as with others the tack is outer most.
When bending the sail on take it out of the bag on the foredeck. (put the bag away.) Put the roll of sail down and attach the tack. unroll the sail towards the stern and attach manks. Or attach the halyard first. This method works well especially when changing down as the wind comes up. In practice however the sail coming off gets stuffed down the front hatch and this is the case usually after a race simply cos we want to get off the boat. good luck olewill

 

[savageseadog]

We roll our membranes if they are to be put away... Saying that we tend to roll our woven delivery (Dacron) sails as they don't get creases set in them.. Simply start at the head and roll them down the luff... Then you can tie them along the boom to keep the crew from walking on them below and keep the downstairs clutter free and dry... It's well worth having your boom cover made to accomdate a rolled main and two rolled headsails! If done properly it doesn't actually need to be much bigger! you roll tighter If the sails are dry or looser if they are a bit damp. Try to never store the sails damp if you can help it.

Only issue is when you need to put them up.. You have to un roll on the foredeck, but if your serious about keeping them in top condition, rolling them is the only way...