How to Remove Blood Stains from Sails

by Mike
(UK)

I was once crewing in a race for a skipper who was proud of his new main sail.

It did look splendidly white and crisp, however it didn't ensure us a win.

Perhaps it was the tension on board that contributed to our failure.

We started off as a happy committed crew all rearing to win.

However, just as we were crossing the start line, in a good position, one of the crew trapped his finger.

It wasn't a serious injury but he made a serious mistake.

He smeared some of his blood on the foot of that new mainsail!!!!!

From then on our skipper became Captain Bligh and us crew were lumped together as useless, scurvy, dogs.

Instead of blowing his top and risking a stroke from high blood pressure, our skipper should just have delegated someone to immediately rinse the stain with cold saltwater.

The emphasis here being on 'cold and 'salt', never use hot water.

And then rinse the stain as soon as possible.

The sooner and longer it can be rinsed or soaked the better.

There are numerous recommendations for removing blood stains, however, while meat tenderizer might work by breaking down the proteins in the blood, it's unlikely that you will have any on board.

Other remedies suggest the use of ammonia, hydrogen peroxide and enzyme soap (whatever that is) but again it's unlikely that any of these will be on board and I would be very wary of using any of them on a new set of sails, I'd rather live with the stain.

Perhaps the cold salt water treatment should be part of your emergency drill.

Oh, and when you have finished rinsing the stain chuck a cold, bucket full over the offender, it will help you to stabilise your blood pressure.