Skippy’s Sister…

by John Curnow on 30 Sep 2016 Not. It’s actually a bit of a follow on from a previous editorial entitled, Quippy. In short, it covers off a good bit of kit, as in ‘eQUIPment’. Based on the feedback from Quippy, I contacted Gaelle Marks from Wichard Pacific again, because I had seen, and even used these really cool new furlers they have from Facnor. A lot of boats have an A-Sail now, even a Code Zero to compliment the Gennaker.

Furlers used to be the sole domain of white sails with UV panels on the leeches (notwithstanding the huge, below deck, powered furlers on superyachts). Some might have had issue with the former, but just like lazy jacks, they made their way, somewhat silently, but oh-so-visibly, onto craft like the mighty Volvo Ocean 70s. No Dacron allowed there, so the sailmakers set to it and created some very positive, you guessed it, ‘Quippy’.

Never a problem in yachting that throwing heaps of money at has not solved, so the humble furler began a serious makeover. Case in point is the Facnor FX+ you see here. Quite a sexy bit of Quippy as it turns out for those Gennakers and Zeros, and it has the performance to match, which is pretty damn handy for short-handed cruisers.



Facnor was one of the companies that worked on the early racing products, and all those years of innovation and experience has brought them to the FX+ range we see here. They are light, at around half the weight of a standard furler, very compact as you can see, and as mentioned, come in Black for all the Fashionistas. If you think that it will be soft, then take in that the drum and swivel are machined from a single reinforced piece, which just adds to its furling power.

Yet the FX+ range of continuous line furlers is way more than talking about carbon fibre or the Neoprene, anti-impact cover that is supplied for the top swivel. The three sizes - 2.5, 4.5 and 7.0 tonne - from the seven in the range that cover boats 20’ to 85’, have a two-way ratchet system. The quick and captive release pin (smooth push spring) is so user friendly. Marks actually insists it is more so than any other brand, so I will go and have a play….

Various top and bottom attachments are available for each model, but it is the fact that the ratchet works in both directions that got me, and this is unique to the Facnor FX+. The optional self-locking device also prevents the flying sail to furl out when the line is released during furling in. Have a look at www.wichard.com.au or contact your sail maker or rigger. Simple, effective, easy to use and super handy has to be worth the cost of enquiry alone!

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