Furled Foresail Preservation|Forum|Twister Class Association

I read Peter Murray’s tale of his roller-reefed foresail being slowly shredded by strong, winter winds, with some sadness.

I watch, usually over a period of weeks, with the same feeling of sadness, unable to help, one or two similar happenings in Portsmouth and Langstone harbours almost every year.

A simple and effective precaution is available on most boats: a second foresail or spinnaker halyard, which, wrapped with six or seven – or more – tight turns around the furled sail and tied off on the pulpit will keep the furled sail safe from shredding.

Of course it would be better to take the sail down and stow it below!