If you want to sail fast on the beam reach, you can rely on gennakers and Code Zero. However, neither sail is ideal for small crews. Although the Code can be combined well with a furling system and can be set and recovered safely, it is an upwind sail and only performs well on courses between 40 and 80 degrees apparent wind angle.
Gennakers also provide the desired propulsion on deeper courses, but are difficult to combine with a furling system. Even sophisticated top-down technology requires such a fine balance between wind incidence, furling speed and sheet tension that problems quickly arise - sometimes with disastrous consequences. In the worst case, the sail can neither be furled nor unfurled. And this usually happens precisely when things need to be done quickly.
Grade luff, broad shoulder
With the Easy Furl, UK Sails offers a carefree alternative to furling. The luff of the sail is cut straight like a Code Zero and is firmly connected to the anti-torsion line, so it can be furled with any endless furler. The typical top-down bubbles or the backspin of the torsion line are therefore ruled out. However, the sail profile is much deeper and the head angle is blunter than that of a Code Zero. This not only increases the surface area, but also makes the sail more stable on deep courses.
In fact, it is astonishing how well the sail performed during testing on Dirk Manno's LA 28, even on deep courses. Despite the straight luff, it still stands up at an apparent wind angle of 160 degrees and delivers good propulsion - and it can be used up to around 80 degrees upwind. The range of use is therefore similar to that of a gennaker - except that the Easy Furl lives up to its name when furling: whether with a standard manual furling system from Seldén or at the push of a button with the Loop EF1500 from Kohlhoff, the manoeuvre was quick and trouble-free, almost like a genoa.
The Easy-Furl sail should cost about as much as a high-quality gennaker of the same size plus the necessary anti-torsion line.
Convenience at the touch of a button
In addition to the new sail, we were able to present the revised version of the Loop EF 1500 battery furlers from Kohlhoff. The new version works with an external 18-volt lithium battery, so the system no longer needs to be pulled out of the trunk for charging, and torque increases to 120 Newton metres. In addition, the outer diameter has been reduced so that the furler now also fits into thinner pipes with an inner diameter of up to 63 millimetres.
To unfurl the sail, simply press the radio remote control. In the prototype tested, this still released the clutch and the cloth could be unwound as usual by pulling the sheet. The sail is now unfurled completely electrically.
Furling is almost spectacularly unspectacular. With a slightly loose sheet, the electric motor wraps the sail around the stay in less than 14 seconds, creating a very compact furler. The only downside to this elegant system is that the drive unit, including battery and remote control, costs 2500 euros.
Further information about the Easy Furl can be found at UK Sails. The EF1500 battery roller system is available with Kohlhoff available.
You will find a detailed report on the Easy Furl sail and the furling system in YACHT 25/2017. The magazine will be available from newsagents on 29 November, or can be ordered from can be downloaded here immediately.
