BENETEAU First 20, Owner'S Manual

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189143 RCD-2
Index A
5.4 SAILS
General points
- The working life of a sail mainly depends on its being regularly maintained.
- When sailing, trim the sails properly in accordance with the stresses in order to reduce the harmful strains on the fabric.
- Avoid wear and tear: Protect against chafing on gear with rough/sharp surfaces (spreaders, stanchions, etc).
- Keep a sailmaker's kit and explanatory booklet onboard to carry our emergency repairs whilst waiting for a professional
sail-maker.
- Rinse the sails in fresh water regularly and dry them quickly to avoid mildew. Avoid drying the sails on the mast in the
wind: Flogging wears the seams and risks tearing the sails on the rigging.
- UV rays severely attack sails: If sails remain rigged, even for 24 hours, cover them with a sailcover or protective fabric.
- The genoa can be fitted with an anti-UV strip: Make sure that the furling direction on the furling drum is correct (the UV
strip must appear on the outside).
- Never use force if the sail sticks when furling or unfurling. If this happens, check that a halyard is not rolled around the
forestay.
Sail storage/folding
- Remove the sails if your boat is not to be used for a long time.
- Avoid storing a wet sail to prevent the appearance of mould and mildew.
- Flake the sail parallel to the foot, then roll it up to the bag dimensions.
When the sailing season is over and, if
possible, before winter, take the suit of sails to a
professional for an overhaul and effective
repairs.
Rigging an
d sails
5