Sport Today

Actually it is time to provide some expert advice on this subject.  I have
my top ten general rules for putting sails away:

1.  When rolling up the wet sail in order to stuff it in the bag, check to
see that there are no fishes, turtles, or other creatures contained in the
sail -- otherwise it will stink.

2.  After a long day of sailing followed by several beers, do not take a
leak near your wet sail before rolling it up.

3.  If you do drop them off at the dry cleaners, asked that they be folded,
not put on hangers -- they will take up less space that way.

4.  If you insist on using abrasive comet cleaner on your sail, it is best
to use a wire brush around the seams to get all the dirt out.

5.  If your sail is a brand new Retro 9.0 M2, leave it on my lawn to dry --
and remember it will take a year or two to completely dry out so come back
then.

6.  Do not roll up a wet sail until after changing into dry clothes,
otherwise no one will ask what have you been doing when they look down at
your pants.

7.  If you forget and try to roll up your sail around your mast, slap your
forehead and say, "Oh, I forgot, I thought this was my old windsurfer from
1970."

8.  If your sail happens to dry out due to warm weather and high winds, give
up windsurfing, you obviously should have stayed out sailing.

9.  It is best to wrap your lunch sandwiches with a dry sail.

10.  IF all else fails and you simply must have a dry sail in the bag, a
well kept secret is that Secret underarm anti-perspirant (that chalky white
stuff), when wiped all over your sail, will do the trick.

There, I hope this expert advice ends this topic for a while

CI

Now this is good sound advice! And who said this group was boring? This was
wonderful.

Charles:

Now that is the definitive post on sail drying!

Tom - Chicago

A classic!  The best antidote for rec.ws boredom syndrome in ages.

Randy

ps.  I suppose all you don't dry your sail guys also roll your wetsuits up in a
ball and stuff them in your booties too.

says...

Why should I treat my wetsuit any differently from my office clothes?

Thanks all for the replies to this important technical article.  I hope the
topic has now been covered and put up to dry.

CI

p.s.  A future article on the technical treatment of wetsuits and booties is
now appropriate.   I am fairly certain the booties I left in the back of my
SUV when I left on a two week vacation were in fact either stuffed with fish
and turtle parts or were left too close to the beer release area.  I must be
doing something wrong.

During a recent discussion on the beach, a windsurfing colleague said that
he thought Okespor booties tended to retain a stinky odor more than other
brands - something about osmosis into the fabric.  And here I thought that
the odor from my Okespor's was from salt water! ;-)

Personally, I'm in the market for new booties.  Having size 10 1/2 (US)
feet, I also find that I'm "in between" manufactured sizes, such as
Okespor's, which are either rubbing against the front of my toes, or giving
me a little too much space to slide around in.

Following from the above thread, and keeping in mind the admonition to keep
the NG from being boring, how about a bit of foot ***ism?  NG members
have 'fessed up about their occupations and all kinds of things.  How about
their footgear?

With what kind of golden slippers do NG followers adorn one of the most
important parts of their windsurfing "equipment"? Round toes, split toes,
high tops, hard soles, thin fabrics, support straps, what have you?  And
why?  How is the fit important?  I find that booties loosen up a bit in
water, so a tight fit dry is OK, excepting my Okespor's never loosen enough
and that toe rub is always with me, uncomfortable.

And the smell?  Wetsuit shampoo doesn't get it out.  At least, not enough.
My colleague on the beach, was he right?  Rinse booties, put them away dry
or wet, salt or fresh, anyone willing to spill the whole truth?

Mark H.
The Bronx

Well, all us aussie sailors use the good old reliable 'lastic-sides' for
sailing, here.

There are different brands around, but RM Williams are about the best.
Personally, I prefer the square toe design, with the medium height heel.

For the really wet days however, you can't go past the old green or black
gumboots. They are'nt as classy looking as the 'lastic-sides', but they give
you extra protection around the shins for those big wipeouts.

I wear two pairs of wooly socks under the gumboots, it helps them to stay on
when you're wading through the bullshit on the beach.

 No worries about the smell, you just hose them out once a year, or so.

You may have a problem getting you're feet in the straps though, but if
that's the case, just take those pissy little standard straps off and
replace them with a couple of lengths of fencing wire..

Works great...

  Ray.

Website: www.botanybay.cjb.net

:

: > A future article on the technical treatment of wetsuits and booties is
: > now appropriate.   I am fairly certain the booties I left in the back of
: my
: > SUV when I left on a two week vacation were in fact either stuffed with
: fish
: > and turtle parts or were left too close to the beer release area.  I
must
: be
: > doing something wrong.
:
: During a recent discussion on the beach, a windsurfing colleague said that
: he thought Okespor booties tended to retain a stinky odor more than other
: brands - something about osmosis into the fabric.  And here I thought that
: the odor from my Okespor's was from salt water! ;-)
:
: Personally, I'm in the market for new booties.  Having size 10 1/2 (US)
: feet, I also find that I'm "in between" manufactured sizes, such as
: Okespor's, which are either rubbing against the front of my toes, or
giving
: me a little too much space to slide around in.
:
: Following from the above thread, and keeping in mind the admonition to
keep
: the NG from being boring, how about a bit of foot ***ism?  NG members
: have 'fessed up about their occupations and all kinds of things.  How
about
: their footgear?
:
: With what kind of golden slippers do NG followers adorn one of the most
: important parts of their windsurfing "equipment"? Round toes, split toes,
: high tops, hard soles, thin fabrics, support straps, what have you?  And
: why?  How is the fit important?  I find that booties loosen up a bit in
: water, so a tight fit dry is OK, excepting my Okespor's never loosen
enough
: and that toe rub is always with me, uncomfortable.
:
: And the smell?  Wetsuit shampoo doesn't get it out.  At least, not enough.
: My colleague on the beach, was he right?  Rinse booties, put them away dry
: or wet, salt or fresh, anyone willing to spill the whole truth?
:
: Mark H.
: The Bronx
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:

Ray,
I've used those gumboots and they're overrated.  Longtime habits die hard,
though, so I understand if you've been using them since '76.
The fencing wire is a great idea, however, but I'll have to mail order for
it.  Here in NYC, the only fence one can buy has little barbs on it.
Thanks,
Mark H.
The Bronx

Enzymatic solution.

Soaps just WASH grunge, and only if it reaches the grunge. Enzymes CONSUME
the source of the stink ... the doodoo from the microorganisms that eat yer
sweat. The same goes for wetsuits full of sweat, skin grease, and urine, and
for carpets full of puppy pee; vinegar or soap does little, while enzymes
gobble up the problem at the microorganism level.

Buy enzyme cleaners at any pet supply store, douse your putrid neoprene with
it, wrap it in a plastic bag for a few days while the microorganisms in the
cleaner consume the stink, and ya got new-smelling neoprene. If wind comes
up before you dry the suit, just put it on wet and let the cleaner keep dong
its job while you sail.

If uv (black) light shows any remaining organic matter in your neoprene (or
carpet), you didn't use enough enzyme solution or use it long enough. Try
again.

Mike \m/

...The liquid left in the bag after Mike's method makes a fine after-shave
lotion, too.

Just rub it on liberally after you shower, and the women will go crazy.

Ray.

Website: www.botanybay.cjb.net

: Enzymatic solution.
:
: Soaps just WASH grunge, and only if it reaches the grunge. Enzymes CONSUME
: the source of the stink ... the doodoo from the microorganisms that eat
yer
: sweat. The same goes for wetsuits full of sweat, skin grease, and urine,
and
: for carpets full of puppy pee; vinegar or soap does little, while enzymes
: gobble up the problem at the microorganism level.
:
: Buy enzyme cleaners at any pet supply store, douse your putrid neoprene
with
: it, wrap it in a plastic bag for a few days while the microorganisms in
the
: cleaner consume the stink, and ya got new-smelling neoprene. If wind comes
: up before you dry the suit, just put it on wet and let the cleaner keep
dong
: its job while you sail.
:
: If uv (black) light shows any remaining organic matter in your neoprene
(or
: carpet), you didn't use enough enzyme solution or use it long enough. Try
: again.
:
: Mike \m/
:
:

How's that?

There is a commercial neoprene wash available from dive shops. I saw a kayak
rental shop that used it and their stuff seemed to stay clean. I have also
mixed up some weak bleach solution and poured it into booties. This worked
well, but does it weaken them? I have three types of booties I have used:
high top with zippers, low rise, and the best for summer, a loose-fitting
bootie with thin neoprene, holes in the sides, and cynch-ties around the
ankles. Niiiice.

| Jonathan M. Richardson (aka Capt. Cook)

Oh I tried that and after shaving the stuff is too burny... it stings my
skin.  It is far better as an underarm treatment.  On the plus side is at
least half or more of those pesky girls that follow you around all the time
seem to drift away, leaving you lots of free space to pantomime those jibe
moves.

CI