Canvas sails aren't very durable...but they caught on just fine for a thousand years or more.
Canvas sails are very durable and if treated right will last ten years or more. Though modern boats, as in those built in the last 30 years will have synthetic sails and the racing yachts such as the round-the-world jobbies have kevlar reinforced sails.
I'm just saying that in space, with the high speeds that everything travels up there, they would be very prone to damage. Especially when it's said a single flake of paint can go straight through a shuttle.
