We still have original April 2011 sailbag, needed a bit of stitching here and there but still works. We use an extra long
boat hook with plastic end to:
1. Flip the tie downs over the bag
2. Grab the batten cars if sail does not fall all the way down
3. Slide hook inside/underneath bag near
mast to grab the
halyard and pull
halyard down and secure to a hook/leash at base of
mast. This brings top part of sail down inside the bag.
When we first bought the boat we had a 3 step ladder made up to bolt to the rear bar of the large
bimini, this is very useful to get to rear end of boom and sail. We also had a 1" reinforcing post made up to fit between the middle of the bimini and the
deck (near the instrument console) (T shaped with U bolts at top and a stanchion type foot). This means on the rare occasion I can make my way along the center of the bimini (when at anchor) to attend to any
maintenance or tidy the sail. (I weigh 95Kg) We are considering having an alloy or
plywood plank made up to put down the center of the bimini U bolted to existing frame, but as yet have not really needed it.
By the way the reinforcing post in the center is a great handhold when negotiating the fly-bridge in rough
weather.