Salt is the most damaging and most commonly overlooked thing affecting how long a sail or cover lasts. A sail can look clean and still carry enough salt to be actively wearing itself out.
As seawater dries on the cloth it leaves crystals behind. They lodge deep in the weave and the coatings, and they do three things.

They clog the fabric. Marine fabrics rely on microscopic gaps to breathe and to control water resistance. Salt blocks those pathways, traps moisture, increases condensation under covers, and creates ideal conditions for mould and mildew.

They stiffen the cloth. Fabrics become harsher to handle and lose their drape. Sailcloth becomes less able to respond correctly to wind loads, so the shape you paid for is no longer the shape you have.

They abrade it. Salt crystals are hard. Every time the sail or cover moves, they rub against individual fibres. Yarns weaken, coatings break down, and high load areas wear faster.

In laminated sails the crystals scratch the Mylar film, moisture penetrates the microscopic damage, and delamination accelerates. In coated canvas, water repellent finishes degrade and waterproofing life shortens.

Soot, bird droppings and sand do similar work. All of it attracts and holds moisture, and mould grows by releasing enzymes that break down the material itself. That leaves dark stains which are often permanent even after the mould is gone.

An annual wash at the end of the season removes the salt from inside the weave, restores flexibility, reduces mildew risk and extends the life of both the cloth and the stitching.

How it is cleaned

We run our laundry through one of the country’s leading marine valeting specialists. Items are collected from us and returned every Wednesday morning.

• Individually assessed to determine the correct method for the fabric and construction
• Flat cleaned by hand
• Fabric specific detergents. Bleach is never used
• Hand spot cleaning where required
• Overnight drying in warm drying rooms

We do not put sails through a domestic machine, and neither should you.