Karver top down furler

“The best recent addition to our deck gear has been the top-down furler for our cruising chute,” said Paul Frew. “Previously this huge sail just sat in the lazarette and was never used because of difficulties with the snuffer. With the topdown furler we use the kite all the time in winds up to 20 knots true. If we see a squall or the wind picks up we can easily furl it using one of the genoa winches.

“We use a Karver KSF5 with a Navtec torsion cable. I also have a removable carbon bowsprit made by Formula. It’s worth bearing in mind that the loads on the tack are considerable. Originally I had a fixed D-ring on the end of the prodder for the furler to attach to, but the bolts sheared when we were reaching midatlantic in about 15 knots apparent.

“I have since replaced the D-ring with a 2:1 tack line that is dead-ended on the end of the prodder and runs through a large Lewmar block and back to a cleat on the foredeck. The furler is attached to the block and this allows the tack to articulate in every direction and since then I have had no problems.

“Once the sail is hoisted on a spinnaker halyard I can unfurl it by hand with no problems. To furl I use the primary electric winch. I tend to wrap the sheet around the sail a few times and then drop it back on deck and bag it later. It’s so much easier than a snuffer and I am sure that in time all asymmetrics will have this type of arrangement. This setup means that Caroline and I can set the kite with just the two of us – and more importantly we can furl it in a hurry with no drama!”

£3,035 for the furler and halyard swivel. www.karver-systems.com www.formulamasts.co.uk