roller furling security

[pete]

Warning.

I got a call from a friend yesterday late afternoon saying my genoa had partly unfurled itself, my boat is on a mooring. Luckily when I got there the sail was only out about 3/4 of the way up the foil for about 5 foot. The sheets still had the bottom secured tightly around the foil. It has damaged a bit of stitching on the leach and a small amount of the sacrificial strip stitching had come undone.
I guess the wind got under an edge and slowly pulled out the slack. Where it was secured lower down with the jib sheets (and a separate line) it had slid up the foil a slightly.

I intend when leaving the boat in future to wrap the spinnaker halliard around the foil a few times spiralling down.

Horrible feeling driving there not knowing what to expect, but was lucky this time. This is the first time it has happened to me in 20 years.
Pete

 

[LadyInBed]

Could it be that the sheet tension angle wasn't equal top to bottom, making the foot tight wound and the leach loose?

 

[Ruffles]

Our furling line is long enough to put half a dozen turns of the sheet round the sail. More by accident than design though.

 

[prv]

Our furling line is long enough to put half a dozen turns of the sheet round the sail.

I always do that - but it sounds like the OP did too, and applied a lashing at the clew to boot. The leech of his sail lifted off the roll above the clew without the sail as a whole unrolling.

Pete

 

[reeac]

I always add a separate half metre length of 10mm. Braided line looped around and knotted. I can just reach to place it above the clew. I've seen the damage that can result if a Genoa comes unfurled in high winds.

 

[niccapotamus]

I took a chance at beaulea boat jumble on a canvas "condom" for the genny as I always am nervous about this having seen a few shredded Genoas. I also use a lashing as far up as I can reach but the OP mentioned that he does this as well.

fitting the "condom" this weekend so I'hope it fits

 

[jwilson]

I always put an extra turn on the furler, ie sheets wound right round, plus I put a stopper knot in the furling line so that even if the cleat (or clutch in my case) is undone it can't unfurl. The stopper knot takes seconds extra. If the boat is being left for any real length of time I also tie another line wound the furled sail. Seen too many sails destroyed (though never mine).

 

[pete]

That's how it was left with the jib sheets wrapped around the foil about 3 times at clue height and an extra line as high as I can reach up the foil. As mentioned the whole sail had slid up a bit taking the extra line almost out of reach. I always try to roll it up as tight as I can when leaving the boat. the luff is almost 12Mtrs so there is a lot of sail above where you can reach.

Just finished the repair, it has flogged at the leach and left a few frayed holes in the edge over about 5 foot and frayed where an UV strip panel overlaps the next one. The sail will likely last for another season or two but will need replacing in the near future.
Pete