On 2008-08-11 06:17:56 -0400, "Roger Long" said:

"RichH" wrote

A furler usually cannot tolerate heavy luff loads, as would be
necessary to change the luff entry shape (the 'forward curve shape' at
the luff) of a jib/genoa; crank on luff tension to a furler with a
halyard and to *Jam*. ..... probably the prime reason that you'll
never ever see a genoa/jib furler on a serious racing boat.

This somewhat depends on halyard geometry. You see some setups where the
halyard leads at an angle from the foil. This is good for minimizing
halyard wraps but pulls the end of the foil against the stay.

Oh, good point! I forgot another reason I love the CDI: The halyard is
internal to the luff, so no possibility of halyard wrap. The luff
tension is controlled at the foot, with about 6:1 leverage from the
multiple loops of light line and gravity helping rather than hurting.
It's real easy to over-tension the luff with a CDI, particularly as the
halyard is wire.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-à-Deux -- Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/