sticking jib

[Marsali]

I tried to hoist my newly re-UV-stripped jib today but couldn't ... the swivelling bit above the head fastening on the furler kept turning as I hoisted, and wound the halyard round the foil, and of course the higher it got and the harder I pulled, the tighter it became.
Any suggestions? (Soon, please, the forecast for the next fews days is brilliant)

 

[Yacht Yogi]

There is nothing much stopping the furler head from rotating other than friction until it has reached the top of the forestay. I recently experienced the opposite situation when I had released the tension from a furled jib halyard with the intention of avoiding the laminated sail stretching when left on the mooring for a few weeks. In this case I went to unfurl the sail and the furler head just rotated with the foil and wound the halyard around the forestay and jammed.

So maybe if you could get some tension on the luff of the sail as you hoist it then that will cause enough friction to stop it turning. The problem may just be the type of rope used for your halyard but I guess that you have used it before without any problem so it is just something it's doing now. Has the halyard been coiled and now needs to be straightend out to remove some residual twist?

One thing you might try is to tie a releasable slip-knot of some sort between the rotating and fixed parts of the furler head using a long thin line that you can tug to release and remove once the sail is hoisted. You'd have to be happy that it wouldn't just ping itself into a wrap next time you try to lower the sail I suppose.

Interesting problem. Have fun, Chris

 

[RobinBirch]

Marsali

I have the same problem with my genoa/furler. I use a long loop of cheapo 4mm line running through the furler head. As I haul up and the head starts to rotate/twist I pull it back into position with the loop. Its a bit stop start and it is easier if there are two of you, but perfectly doable single handed. When the sail is up untie the loop and pull through.

 

[Marsali]

Dear Yacht Yogi and Robin,

Thank you both for that - great minds think alike! That was my plan B, but before I tried that then I simply swapped the ends of the halyard around - it was twist in the halyard, and once that was got rid of it went up beautifully.
Happy sailing,
Marsali