Sanders Sails Sustainability Sail Makers

Furling Downwind Sails

 

Furling systems are no longer limited to mainsails and genoas. We design and convert asymmetric spinnakers for furling too – transforming powerful downwind sails into controlled, cockpit-managed tools. With the right furling setup, you can:

  • Launch, furl and recover safely from the cockpit.
  • Reduce crew demands when sailing short-handed.
  • Make downwind sailing more accessible and confidence-inspiring.

Whether specified from new or retrofitted, a furling asymmetric allows you to enjoy the performance of a downwind sail with far less drama and far more control.

Sanders One Design Sails

Bottom-Up Furling

Sanders One Design Sails

Bottom-up furlers work much like a conventional headsail roller system. The tack is fixed to the drum and the torsional cable runs inside the luff of the sail. As the furling line is pulled, the sail wraps around this cable from bottom to top.

These systems work extremely well for:

  • Code sails
  • Close-reaching asymmetric sails

If the sail behaves more like a genoa – flatter entry, less mid-girth, designed for tighter reaching angles, then a bottom-up system is often ideal.

Top-Down Furling

As downwind sails get broader and deeper – especially deep running asymmetric spinnakers, bottom-up systems struggle to capture the extra fabric in the upper sections of the sail. This is where top-down furling comes into play. A top-down unit includes a free-rotating tack swivel. When furling begins, torque travels up the cable and the sail begins to roll from the head downward – controlling the wide, powerful top sections first.

Top-down systems are ideal for:

  • Running Asymmetric Spinnakers
  • Broader angle sails (90°–160° TWA)

If the sail needs to project to windward with an extensive positive luff curve and a half width greater than 60 percent, then a top-down system is the right choice.

Sanders One Design Sails

Want to find out more about our unique range of furling sails? Get in touch with the Sanders team, we’d love to hear from you!

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FURLING
HEADSAILS

 

Foil-based furling systems
Torsional stay furling systems

 

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FURLING
MAINSAILS

 

In-Mast Furling (IMF)
In-Boom Furling (IBF)

 

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