"Spin-a-thong" - the business case for single-use spinnakers

Log extract.
Date: 20-Nov-2023
Position: Between Cape Verde and Grenada, we're sailing as part of the ARC+ fleet



Prelude:
The ARC+ fleet is in Mindelo, Cape Verde, and most boats have their laundry done by one of the local ladies. Unfortunately, they were a bit overwhelmed and quite a bit of laundry got mixed up between different bags. So, while in Mindelo, there was a vivid exchange on our Whatsapp group, between the different boats, with crew posting pictures of different clothing, asking "Got this returned in my laundry bag, it is not mine. Whose is it?"
Equally, there was an equally vivid exchange of people looking for "lost laundry"

Short extract from the ARC+ chat group on Whatsapp while in Mindelo, Cape Verde.

John: Another pair of shorts found in our laundry bag. (picture inserted). Is not ours. Who does it belong to?
David: Not mine. I lost red shorts, though.
Laura: In my returned laundry bag, I miss a set of black lace ladies' underwear.
Peter (me): I will give it back to you in Grenada.

Now back to our topic.

I hate spinnakers.
Those light sail power chutes are an endless source of problems on sailing yachts.

Several ARC+ boats had issues with their spinnakers already on leg 1 to Mindelo.

A friend had their spin wrapping around their genoa, making both unusable for most of leg 1.

When I saw the shreads of David’s spin, at the dock in Mindelo, I sat on the bow of our boat, crying...

But then I had a bright idea: “single use spinnakers”!

Biodegradable spinnakers which you hoist and never lower: you just cut halyard, sheets and tack line, and let go.

We can make it a sustainable business by using recycled materials.
Like using ladies' lace underwear. I am happy to offer my vast collection of ladies' lace underwear for trials of single-use spinnakers.
Through the years I collected loads of red, black, pink ladies underwear. This would make it a nice recognizable brand mark for our spinnakers: many different small patches of a wide variety of colours. And smells. Some would be very very VERY small patches, indeed. In Mindelo, I bribed the local ladies doing the ships' laundry, to give me the nicest lace ones. - Sorry Laura! - So, I am prepared for this business case, and pitch in!...

Is lace biodegradable? I know it needs to be washed at 30°. But is lace biodegradable?

What would be a good brand name for single use spinnakers, made from recycled ladies' lace underwear?

“One night with you”?
“Yes, but once only! “?
“Spinning thongs”?
“The Thong Thing”
“Thongs are in the air, everywhere I look around”?
“Give thongs a chance”?
“Thongs Go Kiting”?

I think I need to cut down on coffee. :slight_smile:

(signed) Peter Pan.

UPDATE (1): the name and byline suggested by Audrey:
“Spin-a-thong - "Disposable spinnakers which can get you through every crack in the wind"
UPDATE (2): During our last night in Mindelo, at the floating bar, I saw a guy with a T-shirt, bearing the name of the boat Laura was on (the lady, who lost her underwear). We had a few beers by that time, so I felt rather inspired and courageous, and went to tap on his shoulder. "Hey man, I heard Laura, on your boat, lost her underwear in the laundry?! I was the guy who joked that I had them and would return the thongs in Grenada". (I thought I was funny...) And he replied "yeah, Laura is my wife"... And being Dutch, he added: "But do you really have her underwear?".
UPDATE (3): I am wearing Laura's underwear today.

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