When unfurling by hauling the working jib sheet, it's recommended to put slight friction on the furling line to encourage it to wind more evenly on the furling drum. With no friction, overrides seem more likely. Similarly, putting slight friction on the working jib sheet when furling the jib back in helps the jib roll up (furl) more evenly. Always make sure that any line is free to run before it's rolled back up onto the jib or furling drum (or anywhere else). An easy way to do that is to feed the bitter end into a loose pile on the deck just before needing it to run free. Feeding the line into a pile also gives a chance to check for knots, kinks, etc., that might prevent it from running free. Same for halyards, etc.
You have a great gift for teaching! I just looked at a couple of your videos and you make it easy to understand what your trying to show. AND you don't have the annoying, seeming prerequisite, grey beard as other pompous sailors have. Keep up the great work!!
Well done. Very clear and simple. One question... when is the best time to install a new genoa on a new sailboat? Before the mast is raised or after? I'm presuming there is also a procedure for doing this. Any videos on how to do that? Thank you ASA.
this is a wonderful video ,really helped with my preparatory study. and there is something different between this video and my sailing made easy textbook ,in the book tip it was advised to raise the jib sail in the broad reach. excellent video. hope to get on the water soon.
Hoisting a jib is slightly different to unfurling a jib, but both can be done easily on almost any point of sail. When hoisting the main sail you almost always want to be in irons (head to wind) and if you are hoisting the jib at the dock the same rules apply. However, if you are hoisting the jib underway, then instead of putting the boat in irons, it's easier to sail on a broad reach to hoist (or unfurl) the jib. Duncan's comment in the video was that you want to avoid hoisting when head to wind because the jib will luff against the mast, so it's better to be on a close reach (or other point of sail) when unfurling.
Thanks - great video. Helps a lot!! My unfurling is difficult and not working. I have to turn manually. But to furl back works fine. What could be wrong?
Thanks for your question. When unfurling the sail it's best for the sheet to have a couple of turns on the winch. Exactly how many turns will depend on the size of your boat, the size of the sail, and how much wind you are sailing in. You should have enough turns to ensure that you can comfortably control the sheet if the jib fills with wind during or immediately after unfurling. Be careful not to over do it as too many turns may increase the likelihood of an override on the winch. When furling, again, the number of turns will depend on the size of your boat, the size of your sail, and how much wind you have. The idea when furling is to keep some tension on the clew as the sail is being furled to ensure the sail is being furled cleanly. Too much tension will wrap the sail very tightly around the headsail and this may cause you to run out of furling line preventing you from being able to furl the sail completely. Too little tension on the clew while furling and the sail may end up being wrapped too loosely around the headsail or be wrapped in an untidy manner - the danger here is that if the leech is not cleanly wrapped tightly around the headstay the wind may work part of the sail loose and the sail will be start to unfurl. In a worse case scenario the top half of the sail will unfurl itself and start to luff, this results in a tightening of the bottom half of the sail making it extremely difficult to unfurl the sail especially if it's windy. In general, it will experience on your own boat that teaches you how many wraps you should use for furling and unfurling the headsail. As a final note, it's not just about furling while you are sailing. If you leave your jib furled on your boat when the boat is docked in it's slip then you are going to want to make sure that it securely furled properly so none of these issues can occur while you are gone - it's never good to return to your boat and find your jib in tatters because it wasn't furled correctly!
Outstanding!
Absolutely outstanding! Every tip was clear and concise.
Thank you!
Clear, simple instruction for every item addressed in this series. Thank you so much! :)
You're very welcome!
Thank you so much for the simple explanation! Roller furling all the way!
When unfurling by hauling the working jib sheet, it's recommended to put slight friction on the furling line to encourage it to wind more evenly on the furling drum. With no friction, overrides seem more likely. Similarly, putting slight friction on the working jib sheet when furling the jib back in helps the jib roll up (furl) more evenly.
Always make sure that any line is free to run before it's rolled back up onto the jib or furling drum (or anywhere else). An easy way to do that is to feed the bitter end into a loose pile on the deck just before needing it to run free. Feeding the line into a pile also gives a chance to check for knots, kinks, etc., that might prevent it from running free. Same for halyards, etc.
Thanks! Those are great tips!
Great job on all your vids Duncan. Stuff that was never really clear to me is now clear. Like someone turned on a light.
You have a great gift for teaching! I just looked at a couple of your videos and you make it easy to understand what your trying to show. AND you don't have the annoying, seeming prerequisite, grey beard as other pompous sailors have. Keep up the great work!!
Well done. Very clear and simple. One question... when is the best time to install a new genoa on a new sailboat? Before the mast is raised or after? I'm presuming there is also a procedure for doing this. Any videos on how to do that? Thank you ASA.
this is a wonderful video ,really helped with my preparatory study. and there is something different between this video and my sailing made easy textbook ,in the book tip it was advised to raise the jib sail in the broad reach. excellent video. hope to get on the water soon.
Hoisting a jib is slightly different to unfurling a jib, but both can be done easily on almost any point of sail. When hoisting the main sail you almost always want to be in irons (head to wind) and if you are hoisting the jib at the dock the same rules apply. However, if you are hoisting the jib underway, then instead of putting the boat in irons, it's easier to sail on a broad reach to hoist (or unfurl) the jib. Duncan's comment in the video was that you want to avoid hoisting when head to wind because the jib will luff against the mast, so it's better to be on a close reach (or other point of sail) when unfurling.
Thanks - great video. Helps a lot!! My unfurling is difficult and not working. I have to turn manually. But to furl back works fine. What could be wrong?
wow, just thinking about getting into sailing & I can see how anyone would want a furling rig..
Excellent clear and concise video thanks
VIDEO - ASA Sailing Made Easy Quick Tip: Roller Furling. #SailingMadeEasy #LearnToSail buff.ly/1GTBPWa
Great series - thank you!
Keep some tension on that furling line as you pull the sail out, or you will end up with a riding turn on the furler drum :-(
I've seen zero sheet wraps, one sheet wrap, and two sheet wraps. Who is right, and why? Thanks for all the tips.
Thanks for your question.
When unfurling the sail it's best for the sheet to have a couple of turns on the winch. Exactly how many turns will depend on the size of your boat, the size of the sail, and how much wind you are sailing in. You should have enough turns to ensure that you can comfortably control the sheet if the jib fills with wind during or immediately after unfurling. Be careful not to over do it as too many turns may increase the likelihood of an override on the winch.
When furling, again, the number of turns will depend on the size of your boat, the size of your sail, and how much wind you have. The idea when furling is to keep some tension on the clew as the sail is being furled to ensure the sail is being furled cleanly. Too much tension will wrap the sail very tightly around the headsail and this may cause you to run out of furling line preventing you from being able to furl the sail completely. Too little tension on the clew while furling and the sail may end up being wrapped too loosely around the headsail or be wrapped in an untidy manner - the danger here is that if the leech is not cleanly wrapped tightly around the headstay the wind may work part of the sail loose and the sail will be start to unfurl. In a worse case scenario the top half of the sail will unfurl itself and start to luff, this results in a tightening of the bottom half of the sail making it extremely difficult to unfurl the sail especially if it's windy.
In general, it will experience on your own boat that teaches you how many wraps you should use for furling and unfurling the headsail.
As a final note, it's not just about furling while you are sailing. If you leave your jib furled on your boat when the boat is docked in it's slip then you are going to want to make sure that it securely furled properly so none of these issues can occur while you are gone - it's never good to return to your boat and find your jib in tatters because it wasn't furled correctly!
Thank you this was very helpful!
just a simple device, so why are they upwards of $1500??
Thank you for tip. Unfortunately there is no closed captioning.
Very well presented. Thanks.
agreed with Deeman, thanks for your videos.
Great little video thx and cheers
excellent video instruction .
Thanks!
UUUGG... I have hank-on..like caveman !!