Furling yankee/genoa

[Black Sheep]

Hi,
after a very pleasant sail in a F4-5 I was unable to furl-in my yankee. it seemed not to be caused by any trouble related to the furling drum or furling rope itself, but for some reason the resistance of the sail against being furled had increased significantly. Any advice on this issue, or is it just a matter of increasing the tension on the yankee/genoa halyard prior to furling??
Thanks for your help!
Michel
(Black Sheep)

[Dennis]

Hello Michel

Glad you are enjoying your new boat.
I assume you have the standard Ronstan furling drum, check that the guide arm for the furling rope is not rubbing against the edge of the drum, acting as a brake.
The halyard should certainly be tight if only to keep the luff of the sail straight.
I find that I have to first release the yankee/genoa sheet, then it requires a firm pull on the furling line. As the sail furls the resistance decreases, due to less drag on the (flapping) sail. If there is any resistance on the sheet, the sail will not furl.
The genoa requires more effort than the yankee, as you would expect.

Hope this helps

Dennis

[Black Sheep]

Thanks Dennis for your rapid reply. yes I do have the Ronstan and its arm is indeed rather close to the drum but it seems the arm does not touch the drum.
Perhaps indeed the halliard tension is the issue (I do release the sheet).
Alternatively, would it be possible according to your experience that the lashings which connect the eye of the sail to the stainless steel wire are not sufficiently tightly bound?
Michel
(Black Sheep)

[oak]

Hello Michel,
I take it the yankee was furling ok but then developed a problem?
are you sure the winding cord had not jumped off or jammed in the slot with the ss arm.
see Seasick Whales mod in the pictures.
I occasionaly get that problem when I am when I am trying to do 6 things at once.usually I have no problems with genoa,probaly a better angle
My problem is more with the staysail furler and I find that I have to release the tension in the halyard in order to get a nice furl.
I am not very happy with the staysail furler and if I can't get it right I am going back to hanked on.
I hate to see the luff sagging away to leeward when the wind gets up.
I also looked at your point re the lashings but can't see how that would cause stiff furling.
Jack
Merlin

[Dennis]

Hello (again) Michel (and Jack)

Another thiought occurs to me. Possibly the halyard swivel is tight.

Interesting comments Jack about your jib arrangements. I currently have a hanked on jib and it sets beautifully especially when beating to windward. However, it is a right pain having to hank the thing on (and off) each time I go sailing. I have been considering either making a jib bag which would enable me to keep the sail hanked on when on its mooring or fitting a furler. I have not yet decided.

Cheers

Dennis

[oak]

Dennis,hello,
Have you had problems with a tight swivel?Maybe thats why I need to release tension in the halyard to get the sail furling properly?
the problem of dropping the jib is that with the absence of guardrails there is no where to tie it.I am not trying to beat off a lee shore but the sagging annoys me
I like your idea of a bag.
How was your visit to sunny Cornwall.we have had 4 weeks of good weather ,which has made a nice change.

[Dennis]

Hello Jack

No I have not had a tight swivel, I just thought that it was possibility. I keep the Genoa/yankee luff as tight as I can without it causing the forestay to sag.

The weather in Cornwall was brilliant. No rain in two weeks and most days the sky cloudless. Not my usual style for holiday weather.

I am taking "Mary Ann" accross to Windermere this weekend for a Trail Sail Association "do", I am hoping that the weather holds out.

Cheers

Dennis