Check Your Furlers

Winter seems to be the season for shredded head sails.

• Taking the sail down and storing either in the cabin, or better, at home is the best answer if you won't be sailing until spring.
• You can barber pole the sail with a spare halyard... but this guy did that and it wasn't enough.

 The root cause was a failed UV cover, but poor furling contributed.

• Furl tightly and wrap the sheet a few times.
• Check the condition of the UV cover. If it starts to fail it will balloon and pull the sail open.

The difference between a winter gale and a summer squall is that the gale will blow for many hours or even days, while the strong part of the squall is over in 15 minutes.