Hey guys, I recently bought a couple of brand new sails (most of my gear I normally buy 2nd hand). I look after my gear with kid gloves and am very careful. I was hoping that buying new would allow the gear to last longer. But try as I might, I just cannot rig or de rig the sails without creasing the film in the luff (NP hornets 8.7 and 7.7). I've re watched the Np videos over and over, and I'm sure my technique is right, but can't help but crease the film (leaving permanent) sharp creases which I know will be weak points in the long run. What am I doing wrong????
i am use to rigging fully crammed sails which have more generous luff pockets, and don't seem to suffer the same fate, is it just an issue with the bigger twin cams with a bit of luff curve????
I swear most of the rigging videos are made to make you crease it, the way they handle them
You pretty much have to fold up the boom / window area somewhere. For derigging though if you tape the mast join you can rotate the mast at the same time as pulling at the bottom and get it out with no shuffling hands and creasing
even if you do not tape the join in the mast you can rotate the mast out of the sail. No working the sail down the mast required.
Some sails have a small loop at the top that you can anchor down with a screwdriver so you have something to pull against when pulling the mast out.
Alternately ask someone to stand on or hold the top of the sail for you while you pull out the mast.
Also, to avoid creases remove the boom before releasing the downhaul
Another thing that helps to reduce creases is to never put the mast down after you started rigging until the boom is on. I learned this only a few months ago, and it does make quite a difference. A bit sad to see that the NP rigging video puts down the sail a lot.
Just make sure you have everything adjusted and lying close by before you start. Then, keep one end of the mast on your hip or in the air the entire time, until the boom is on. The guy I learned this from gets a full new quiver every year; his old sails always look almost unused, even though he sails a lot.
