Well, on my boat the only reason we have to turn into the wind is because
the sliders on the mast rail bind otherwise. I guess that if you had some
kind of roller system that could take the side load without binding instead
of sliders, the sail would come down or go up easily as long as it wasnt't
binding on your rearmost standing rigging.

That would be nice IMO. I wouldn't be surprised to find that somebody makes
such a system that will replace my stainless steel and plastic sliders, but
I haven't run across it.

Don W.

wrote:
Its 2005, why do we still have to do this silly pointing into the wind
to get the main up or down or to reef it. Surely someone could come up
with a way to reef or get the main up or down on any point of sail. I
know most sailors are conservative but I am not so if ya got any ideas
let me know.