Masterclass

HOW TO REPAIR SAILS AT SEA

- Pip Hare

Those who venture offshore understand the importance of self-sufficiency: if something breaks we fix it out of necessity. This is especially the case when it comes to sail repairs. In my experience, with enough time and the right materials, pretty much anything can be repaired well enough to get back to shore. But just as sail materials have changed, so have the materials we can use to repair them.

Preparation

Don’t rush at a repair; poor preparation will seriously affect the staying power of your handiwork. Aim for a flat, dry and clean surface. Smaller tears in spinnakers or headsails can often be fixed with a quick drop and repair on deck. Repairs to the lower portion of the mainsail can be reached by reefing. But if the damage is large or conditions too difficult don’t procrastinate – get the sail below decks to dry as soon as possible.

Once dry, rub the whole area with acetone or alcohol to remove the last moisture and any salt or dirt residues that may hamper adhesion.

Making a repair on a flat surface can be harder than it sounds, especially when performing the operation on deck. For smaller repairs use a chopping board underneath, or perhaps a locker lid for bigger fixes. It pays to get the biggest area possible laid out and flat to avoid puckering. When sailing short-handed, I use clamps to hold the sail in place around the board. If fixing a mainsail in situ, have one or two people on the opposite side of the sail holding a board in place.