The principle
Here we are talking about the mainsail furlers in the mast. Even if there are furlers in the boom (more efficient solution by allowing to keep battens and a drop circle), it is the furling in the mast which is most often retained.
Its operation is simple: like a jib furler, the drum is at the bottom of a forestay, except that all this is integrated into the mast. To avoid winding problems, the drum is a kind of worm that guides the winding end.
The maneuvers
Unroll
- We start by placing the boat upwind
- Shock the downhaul
- Shock the end of the reel and pull the edge.
- Once the sail is fully unfurled, the edge is tensioned with the winch.
- We take the downhaul and line the mainsail
Winding
- We put the boat back upwind
- We shock in large the border
- We roll by pulling on the end of the reel avoiding the folds in the fabric.
Reduce the web
- We put the boat back upwind
- We gradually shock the edge
- A crew member rolls by pulling on the end of the reel until the desired reduction is achieved
- The border is tightened
- The downhaul and sheeting were adjusted before setting out again.
The benefits
- Furling and unfurling the sail without leaving the cockpit is a safety measure for the crew.
- Sail reduction is simply always done from the cockpit.
- Once furled, the mainsail is protected from UV rays without going through a cover or a lasy-bag.
Disadvantages
- The risk is to block the mainsail in the mast groove. Once blocked, it is very difficult to furl or furl the mainsail.
- The absence of batten does not allow the sail to have a beautiful shape at the level of the fall.
- The absence of a drop circle reduces the surface area of the mainsail.
- The numerous friction forces all the manoeuvres to be done with the help of a winch.
- Thus in the mast, the mainsail, even when reduced, always has weight in the tops. This is not good for the boat's marine behaviour in heavy seas.
