In the December '07 UK-Halsey Newsletter, we called attention to the fact that the stitching and webbing at the head and tack of furling genoas and at clew of furling mainsails is exposed to sunlight all the time. The result of this exposure is a dramatic deterioration in strength. Unfortunately, this loss of strength is virtually invisible to the eye and usually only shows up when the stitching or webbing fails completely. This almost always occurs when a good breeze is blowing, which makes the failure dramatic and very inconvenient.
The first step in avoiding these problems is to have these parts of your sails checked and repaired on a regular basis by your sailmaker. Think of it as changing the oil in your car! In the early years of your sails, this will just mean re-stitching the webbing. However, after three or four years the webbing should be completely replaced.
Given the upcoming change of season, it's a perfect time to have your sails checked. If you have a roller furling genoa and/or a roller furling mainsail, assume the worst and have the stitching and webbing gone over and repaired. You'll be glad you did!
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