Any damage to the fabric is a potential weak spot where the fabric can tear if subjected to temporary stress, such as during a hard drop onto the water’s surface. If the material is intact, the kite’s entire frame absorbs the brief stress. However, if there is a small tear, cut, or hole in the fabric, that will be the point where the tear originates.
Therefore: every small hole or cut in the spinnaker fabric must be repaired by applying a rounded spinnaker tape patch to both sides of the fabric to restore the tear resistance at that point. Before applying the patch, clean the area all around with an alcohol wipe to remove salt, then apply the patches to both sides of the affected area. The patch should be the width of the roll and applied with rounded corners. This prevents the edges from peeling up.
We recommend self-adhesive spinnaker repair tape from PSP. This is also available in various colors. Just look online.
The piece of self-adhesive fabric in the repair kit is Insignia sailcloth, which can be used as a temporary fix (if you’re stranded on an island). For long-term solutions, the PSP repair tape made from genuine spinnaker material is better suited.
If you have major damage to your kite, we recommend visiting a professional sailmaker. Often, seams need to be unstitched, the fabric cut, and then re-glued and sewn back together. Without professional knowledge and equipment, it’s difficult to ensure that the repair is durable and looks good. Both the original CoreTex® Triple Ripstop canopy fabric and the original Exotex® Dacron are available from CORE.