Easy Furl Code D
One of the biggest challenges cruising sailors face, is how best to sail downwind with only your up-wind sails set. The jib bangs against the mast and gets beat up and doesn’t provide much power. You usually turn on the engine and you then have to put up with noise and exhaust blowing across the boat. Neither are very attractive options. For years, UK Sailmakers has taught that cruising spinnakers were the solution to this sailing dilemma. Today there are excellent furling system that allow us to furl flying sails with ease.
Setting a spinnaker with the aid of a dousing sock still required someone to go forward to raise/lower the dousing sock, which can be unsafe for the less experienced sailor.
Now there is a much better alternative!
UK Sailmakers developed the Easyfurl Code D, a cruising spinnaker that can be pre-set and is easy to release and furl from the safety and comfort of the cockpit. Today the Cruising Code D Spinnaker is an asymmetric spinnaker with a nearly straight luff that furls from the bottom up, just like a genoa. With a regular, continuous line furler, it’s easier to use than a Stasher system and less expensive than top-down furlers. The Code D gets its name because its shape, a straight luff and round leech, makes it look like the letter “D.”
Above: XC45 NADIE sailing with a Code D. Notice how straight the luff of the spinnaker is. Right: an X4(3) also flying a Code D; from this angle you can see the “D” shape of the sail.
A Cruising Code D spinnaker performs well from 80-degrees apparent wind angle to nearly dead downwind. It will even fly well wing-on-wing with or without a whisker pole. Thus, it is truly an all-purpose sail for cruisers and daysailors. The sails straight luff allows the sail to be furled evenly and tightly. For smaller sails we install a double luff rope and for bigger sail we install an anti-torque rope. These all-purpose asymmetrical spinnakers can be made out of any nylon allowing customers to be creative with colors.
Don’t be afraid of cruising spinnakers any longer! Hoist your Code D cruising spinnaker before leaving the dock or mooring, and then leave it furled until you are ready to sail downwind. When ready, unroll it and cruise in comfort, safety, with speed.
The EASY-FURL will work with any continuous-loop bottom-up furler or the new Electric FurlerLoop EF1500 from Kohlhoff. Push-button furling is the latest improvement to spinnaker handling. The Kohlhoff unit has an external 18-volt lithium battery, which means the furler does not have to be removed from the sprit for charging.