Winter refit
Dinghies
What can dinghy owners do now to get ahead? Jon Emmett breaks down some key tasks
Boat work can be a little bit like injury: people often don’t think about it until it stops them sailing. Preventative boat work takes far less time (and therefore ensures far more time on the water) than waiting for something to break and then fixing it. That said, winter often brings more time on shore, making this a great time to get your boat in tip top condition so you can enjoy the rewards with confidence once you get back on the race course.
The winter months are also a great time to get ahead on jobs that you know will need repeating, are looking for consistency, or where you will need a spare. For example, when making up tapered spinnaker sheets, rather than making one at a time, why not make two? Another good activity is to make an inventory of your equipment to see what needs replacing and decide what equipment to downgrade from racing to training use.
Hull
It pays to get into the habit of washing the boat down after every sail to keep it clean and salt free. This helps prevent corrosion, especially around rivets. At the same time, check for scratches that need sanding and note any repairs required.
Cleaning the boat can
