BOSUN’S BAG

BAGGYWRINKLE

You don’t see baggywrinkle as much as you used to. If you aren’t familiar with the term, it’s those fluffy cylindrical pads up in the rigs of salty vessels that guard against chafe. Time was when any self-respecting gaffer had a few lengths on the runners or the topping lifts to protect the mainsail going downwind. The bosuns of square-riggers clapped it on to their forestays under the hounds to save their sails from oblivion. For ocean cruisers it was once a rite of passage. Today, it’s a rarity. I wonder why.

Chafe still