Jeff Morris wrote:

There are several solutions like Batt-cars and the Strong track that allow the main to go
up and down very easily. Add a Dutchman system, or a StackPak (too bad you can't do both)
and you have something that's very easy and not more complicated than a normal system.

There's a 38 footer with a Dutchman flaking system on her mainsail in our marina. From
watching it in action, I'd prefer the StackPak.

Full length battens, lazy jacks, and a solid vang make the easiest handling sail so far
devised. If you want to back up one level of technology, a junk rig is the way to go... except
that I have never personally seen a junk rigged boat with decent performance under sail... the
junk rig junkies all swear it can be done though.

The one large benefit of the vertical roller furling main is that it can be reefed or furled
on any point of sail. To douse a full batten main with lazy jacks, you need to bring the wind
forward of the beam. In my experience the easiest point of sail in heavy weather is to bring
the wind & wave just forward of the beam, using a preventer & the main sheet to lock the boom
in place as firmly as possible. It's an added step but it seems to save time in conditions
where you spend much of your energy hanging on and trying to keep your head above water.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King