Bowman's Observation

A boat can only move as fast as the slowest equipment on board will allow. And when a boat is racing upwind, it is the slowest and weakest winch handles that limit her tacking speed. This is why top pit crews routinely "lose" weak winch handles overboard so they will be replaced with newer, shinier winch handles by the owner. This natural selection is good for the boat as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole boat keeps improving by the regular loss of the weakest winch handles.

In much the same way, the bowman can only rig a hoist as fast as the slowest spinnaker bag permits. So naturally, a bowman will attack the oldest and weakest spinnaker bags first.

In this way, the regular disposal, shredding, and overall destruction of the boat eliminates the weaker equipment, making the boat a faster and more efficient machine! That's why you always feel better after cutting a spinnaker in half with a knife.

--Skippy on Hot Water explaining the loss of a equipment in Harbor Springs, Michigan.