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Roller Furling

A system that stows a sail by rolling it around a stay, foil, spar or mandrel.

Headsail furlers commonly rotate a foil or drum around the forestay, while mainsail systems can roll the sail inside a mast, inside a boom or around an external spar. A furling line or powered drive controls rotation while sheets and halyard tension manage the sail.

Furling means stowing the sail; partial deployment is reefing only when the sail and system are designed for it. Swivels, bearings, line leads, wrap direction, halyard angle and sail condition require maintenance because a jam can leave excessive sail exposed in rising wind.

Interactive sailing diagram

Points of Sail Trainer

90° Beam Reach Port tack
Starboardtack
Porttack
Wind
No-Go Zone
0° 90° 180° 90°
Port tack Beam Reach
Holding course
Sail trim Eased halfway
Performance Fast and balanced
  • No-Go Zone 0° - 45°
  • Close-Hauled 45° - 60°
  • Close Reach 60° - 80°
  • Beam Reach 80° - 100°
  • Broad Reach 100° - 150°
  • Running 150° - 180°

Beam Reach

The wind is coming across the side of the boat. This is usually quick, stable, and easy to feel.