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GordMay · 24-06-2004, 02:31

Roller Reefing a Jib:

Sailing deep (off the wind - deep broad reach or running reach), with the headsail in the lee of the main, you can easily furl even a 140% genoa without using a winch. The mainsail will tend to shield the jib from the wind. Mild tensioning is kept on the jib's sheet to enable the jib to wrap snugly around the headstay/foil. This will prevent excess luffing of the sail and make furling easier. In a pinch, you can always let the jib out, by loosening it's sheet and rolling in the furler, but in high winds excess luffing may occur and this can damage the sail. The roller furling line must be carefully handled in a high-wind situation, or the wind may overpower the sailor and unfurl the sail. As you loosen this line, a high-wind may pull the line through your hands and unintentionally unroll the jib. It is sometimes helpful to place several loops of the line around a winch so the line can be stabilized. Then loosen the jib's sheet and with your hands pull in the jib's furling line.

The same problem exists when unfurling the jib in a high-wind situation. First loosen the furling line by a few feet and then secure it. Then un-furl the jib using the jib's working sheet. If you unroll the jib first with the sheet and the wind catches the sail, it may fully unroll the jib and pull the furling line through your hands. Thus, secure the furling line first.

NEVER TIGHTEN THE JIB's FURLING LINE USING A WINCH HANDLE. If the line gets caught on the forestay, this could bring down your rigging and in a high-wind situation dismast the boat.

There should be enough roller furling line to fully furl the jib, wrapping the sheet around it several times, regardless of the tightness of the furl.

Some useful websites:

The best reading may in be your specific Roller Reefing/Furling Owners' Manual

From Neil Pryde Sails: http://www.neilprydesails.com/info.htm
Roller Furling Headsail Trim Guide:
http://www.neilprydesails.com/pdf/Ad...20Headsail.pdf

Fine Tuning a Roller Reefing System: http://www.cncphotoalbum.com/doityou...llerreefer.htm

Cruising Sails: Roller Furling Headsails by Carol Hasse
http://www.porttownsendsails.com/pdf..._headsails.pdf

HTH
Gord

24-06-2004, 02:31	#4
GordMay Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W Boat: C.L.O.D. (Cruiser Living On Dirt) Posts: 12,576	Winching Furler Roller Reefing a Jib: Sailing deep (off the wind - deep broad reach or running reach), with the headsail in the lee of the main, you can easily furl even a 140% genoa without using a winch. The mainsail will tend to shield the jib from the wind. Mild tensioning is kept on the jib's sheet to enable the jib to wrap snugly around the headstay/foil. This will prevent excess luffing of the sail and make furling easier. In a pinch, you can always let the jib out, by loosening it's sheet and rolling in the furler, but in high winds excess luffing may occur and this can damage the sail. The roller furling line must be carefully handled in a high-wind situation, or the wind may overpower the sailor and unfurl the sail. As you loosen this line, a high-wind may pull the line through your hands and unintentionally unroll the jib. It is sometimes helpful to place several loops of the line around a winch so the line can be stabilized. Then loosen the jib's sheet and with your hands pull in the jib's furling line. The same problem exists when unfurling the jib in a high-wind situation. First loosen the furling line by a few feet and then secure it. Then un-furl the jib using the jib's working sheet. If you unroll the jib first with the sheet and the wind catches the sail, it may fully unroll the jib and pull the furling line through your hands. Thus, secure the furling line first. NEVER TIGHTEN THE JIB's FURLING LINE USING A WINCH HANDLE. If the line gets caught on the forestay, this could bring down your rigging and in a high-wind situation dismast the boat. There should be enough roller furling line to fully furl the jib, wrapping the sheet around it several times, regardless of the tightness of the furl. Some useful websites: The best reading may in be your specific Roller Reefing/Furling Owners' Manual From Neil Pryde Sails: http://www.neilprydesails.com/info.htm Roller Furling Headsail Trim Guide: http://www.neilprydesails.com/pdf/Ad...20Headsail.pdf Fine Tuning a Roller Reefing System: http://www.cncphotoalbum.com/doityou...llerreefer.htm Cruising Sails: Roller Furling Headsails by Carol Hasse http://www.porttownsendsails.com/pdf..._headsails.pdf HTH Gord __________________ Gord May ~~_/)_~~ (Gord & Maggie - "Southbound") "If you didn't have time/$ to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"