"Edgar" wrote in message
...
Jon. if you hoist a sail where the luff rope is held in a groove in the
mast
there is nowhere for the luff rope to go except out of the groove when you
lower the sail.

You're right, but I set my halyard not to go beyond the end of the luff
rope.

Maybe you had a track with slides and with that you can certainly flake
the
sail, leaving the slides bunched together on the track.

Nope.. it was a luff rope.

This is how it works on a larger boat but on a dinghy with a mast grooved
for the luff rope you cannot lower the sail with the rope still held in
the
groove,-unless, of course, you are just talking about leaving the head
board
and the top foot or so of the sail in the groove while you flake the rest
that has come out.
Edgar


"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
Edgar, I didn't have to remove my main when I had that kind of luff. I
flaked the sail on the boom without a problem. All you have to do is pull
the sail slightly aft as you lower and flake it.