REVIEW Blenders, what a convenience. Here’s what the market offers

Whippers are low-profile winders similar to winders but with a closed loop for the recovery line. They are easy to arm and are now inexpensive.

Today is the time for “Flying Sails” i.e., those sails, which range from gennaker to Code Zero but are fully furling and maneuverable even with a few crew members. Systems that allow them to be furled have been used and tested for years by solo sailors, where to save energy, they preferred a Code Zero-type furling sail or gennaker, which are simpler than a spinnaker. The “Flying Sails” family of “Flying Sails” require special equipment to be wrapped.

THE EQUIPMENT.
The whisker is obviously essential for a furling sail. It is similar to a spooler but is low profile with a closed winding circuit. The drum is especially light, and easy to arm, thanks to a quick-attach system. Such ease of assembly means that you can have multiple sails rolled on board, and to use them you always rig them on the same whip. The sail is furled on an anti-twist line, free for gennakers or inferred if you have Code Zero. Several sailmakers, such as Quantum, Elvstrom and One Sails have already experimented with cable-free anti-twist solutions for Tails as well, with systems that simplify operation. At the top is a swivel head that connects to the halyard; once cocked, the winding circuit must be mounted.

WHERE TO MOUNT.
By now, almost all boats over 45 to 50 feet in size already go out with an eyebolt on the bow in front of the furler so they can rig the sail. The most common solution, however, remains to use a bowsprit. If your sail is a pure gennaker, you can avoid bracing it, If, on the other hand, yours is a Code Zero type sail bracing at the bowsprit is necessary.

WHAT THE MARKET OFFERS

BAMAR/ RLG EVO S
From the design of RLG EVO comes the “S” version with a contained top drum. The combination of this new type of drums and heads with high-performance NO torsion stays becomes ideal not only for Code Zero and gennaker, but also for foresail furlers and high-performance, lightweight profile-free furlers such as those aboard the modern IMOCA 60s on the Vendée-Globe world tour. www.bamar.it

UBI MAIOR / FR250RWM
A new reliable and functional furler for headsail handling, both gennaker and Code 0. The drum and head are machined from a single piece of 6082T6 aluminum and contain cylindrical roller thrust bearings. The geometry of the drum ensures a perfect grip when winding, allowing easy opening even from the cockpit. www.ubimaioritalia.com

HARKEN/ REFLEX
Harken has introduced an innovative system for closed-loop winders. Gennaker and Code Zero can be coiled in speed and total control: capping the line results in immediate rotation of the anti-twist cable and top swivel, thus eliminating the delay due to a spiral movement of standard cables. www.harken.it

RONSTAN / CONTINUOUS LINE
This Ronstan whisk is characterized by its extremely easy assembly and the top that controls the rotation of the drum (of optimized diameter and made of anodized aluminum for maximum efficiency) in a closed loop. A system that allows the asymmetric to be opened and rolled up quickly and smoothly. www.ronstan.com

FACNOR / FX +
Facnor’s FX+ whiskers feature a carbon drum structure that limits the weight on board and a very simple headsail rig. Also the continuous loop line that controls the rotation arms extremely easily, they can be used for both Tails and gennakers. www.settemariyacht.it

WINDERFURL / WF
WINDERFURL closed-circuit furlers, suitable for furling sails such as gennakers, tails 0 and foresails, in Top-down and Bottom-up configurations.These furlers, made of materials such as aluminum alloy 6082 or stainless steel 316 and 17 4-ph, are characterized by maximum lightness and guaranteed to hold the highest loads.Available for boats from 20′ to 60′ feet. www.goldservicerigging.com

SELDEN / CX AND GX SERIES
Selden’s workhorse is the Adjustable Tack Swivel, a system that allows the tack point of the whip-mounted sail to be height-adjusted to suit different conditions. The ATS works in a simple way: it consists of a unit that runs on the GX-series whip cable (made of ultra-torsion-resistant material, by the way) equipped with two attachment points: one for the sail tack, the other for the sheet, which, deferred on a bow block, will serve as a “downhaul” and “daggerboard.” You can also equip yourself with the Double Fairlead, a double fairlead that can be mounted on an stanchion that allows the sheets of the whip to run in a continuous loop, eliminating the risk of tangles. www.velamania.it

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