Winter is both a rest and a wear period for your rig, and a few simple measures hugely reduce the problems you will meet at season start. Step one is rinsing all rigging, sheaves and the furler with fresh water; step two is load reduction, easing wire tensions slightly and always taking the sails off. Leaving the furling sail on the foil all winter is the most common and most damaging mistake.
For lay-ups longer than one season we recommend unstepping the mast and storing it horizontally. Ask us about our unstepping, storage and maintenance packages for winter storage areas in Marmaris, Göcek and around.
Before winter lay-up
- Rinse the whole rig with fresh water
- Take sails off; never leave the furling sail hoisted
- Ease wire tensions slightly
- Tie halyards away from the mast
- Book an end-of-season rig inspection