garvellachs
Member
Safety is not about blame either of the design or the installation but about how to improve things and build in resiliance. Having something over and above the usual single bit of quite thin rope to prevent an unplanned unravelling of the genoa has to be a good thing. I think the OP is right.
So my guess is that the OP (not skipper he says) was reaching across the F7/8 westerlies heading south in open sea; fairly safe with everything reefed to the full. Suddenly the reefing line gives way and a large jib/genoa unravels unbalancing everything and driving the bow round before the wind. A jibe follows and breaks the mainsheet (its windy out there), another violent jibe as control is lost. Hopefully someone is getting the engine on and establishing some sense of order, head to wind; hopefully it's not dark too. Hopefully there aren't lengths of mainsheet nor furling line in the water ready to foul the prop.
A scary scenario which would test any of us. I can understand why the OP is questioning the way the furling works. That 8mm furling line could dis-mast the boat in those circumstances. Our old Harken had corresponding holes in the drum and the drum casing that could admit a short line or a drop nose pin to lock the furler - crude but reassuring. Our new Selden (not as good in my opinion) doesn't offer anything the same, but a short line tied from the tack shackle to the pulpit provides a bit of security. I think the manufacturers should think about this and offer something similar.
Of course once the furler is locked off, someone may need to go forward to unlock it in less-than-ideal conditions; but choosing your moment to brave the foredeck with a tether is altogether preferable to a sudden and uncontrollable deployment in a gale of a sail that might be almost the size of a full mainsail on a mast-head boat!