EJ,
No, I don’t remove the main every time I sail. But I do roll it every time. I’m ok with leaving the rolled main on the boom as long as it’s beneath a cover. Otherwise, the rolled main comes off the boom and gets put in its bag.
I start the roll on the main at the top draft stripe or top batten, with the goal of keeping the battens parallel to the roll. Then, I use two sail ties to secure the main to the boom.
Headsails are always rolled as well. First and second string racing sails live in their bags inside my home, while cruising headsails are rolled and stored in the cabin. Bags prevent stains and unnecessary wear and tear. Rolled #1 and #2 Genoas are too long and extend out of the cabin and onto the cockpit floorboards unless they’re folded in half ( not the vest thing for them).
Hopefully, you have an over-the-boom cover that protects the cockpit and any sails that extend into it.
The best storage solution for a roller furled headsail is an ATN sock. It zips around the RF headsail while being raised by the spinnaker halyard, then two, zig-zagged, external laces are drawn tight to prevent excess cloth from fluttering. The ATN protects the headsail from wind and sun, so the heavy, UV cloth that protects the sail when it’s furled can be left off the leech.
Warm regards,
Bud Brown