Folding spinnakers

I'll always fold a kite but I'd never dream of ironing any clothes (well, maybe a white shirt for work). A kite left in the chute makes such a lovely mouse nest, and if you're taking it out its so much less hassle to store if you've folded it, plus the more its crumpled up the quicker that nice crisp finish is going to go.

Roll not fold, then stuff it in a bag.....I usually go commando. It's all wrinkled.

Edited by transient - 12 Jan 16 at 12:42am

I roll it (sort of, it's more of an orderly gathering up) so it will go in the bag without jumping up and down on it. All the old  spinnakers I've seen are usually knackered because of stretching down the luff (obviously worse on assys) causing them to curl to early. Folding doesn't stop that.

Originally posted by piglet Given that we don't generally fold our spinnakers at every leeward mark AND that it is difficult to get a crinkle free fold AND folding puts creases in anyway, is there a longevity gain?

The way I look at it is that every crease is a micro implement of life off the sail. If I fold the sail I put fewer creases in it than I do if I stuff it into a bag, and if its folded its less likely to get even more creases being chucked around. I can't do anything about the damage being done by hoists and drops, but I can do something to reduce storage damage.

I suppose if I were mega rich I'd have my boats stored in a hangar or something and suspend the kite from the ceiling without folding it at all...

So yes, I'm a cheapskate. That's why I don't waste electricity ironing undergarments...

Edited by JimC - 12 Jan 16 at 12:22pm

Originally posted by iGRF Leave it in the chute - forever.

Ah well, that depends on the local field mouse population...