Scott,

Your confusion is as easily understood as the presenters.

There are some headsail rollers that specifically do not advise running
with the sail other than fully unrolled. These are typicaly the less
expensive (one had a three leter name I do not recall) versions and
often have no halyard sivel.

The better units will allow a partially unrolled headsail, but will
caution you that the sail has limited use as a reef (ie. 130 of a 155).
Most sailmakers will build you a padded luff sail to flatten the draft
at reefed setting. These can come close to working.

Your choice if you want to do this is to talk to your loft and discuss
the situation at some length.

Matt Colie A.Sloop "Bonne Ide'e"
Lifelong Waterman, Licensed Mariner and Perpetual Sailor


Scott wrote:

I recently watched a cable program on heavy weather sailing techniques.
During a reefing discussion the distinction was made between headsail roller
furling and roller reefing systems. How does one tell the difference?

Thanks in advance -

- Scott

Matt has the answer right on the money. Very simply, there are Furlers and Reefers. Reefing Systems are built to withstand the added torque put on the extrusions from the sail being reefed while the Furler is not.

Cheers, Rob