Furling main sail drop

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   Hello all
I plan to drop the mainsail (for the first time) on my 455 which has the electric Selden in mast furling. 

I think I understand the principles but would like to hear if there are any tips or suggestions based on practical experience that might help a short handed (and rather elderly!) team carry out this task. I'm hoping to do this at the weekend when the wind is forecast to be light.

Many thanks in advance

Richard

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Richard M Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commadore Joined: 06 November 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 376	Post Options Post Reply Quote Richard M Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Furling main sail drop Posted: 20 March 2026 at 10:16
	Hello all I plan to drop the mainsail (for the first time) on my 455 which has the electric Selden in mast furling. I think I understand the principles but would like to hear if there are any tips or suggestions based on practical experience that might help a short handed (and rather elderly!) team carry out this task. I'm hoping to do this at the weekend when the wind is forecast to be light. Many thanks in advance Richard
	Richard M (S/Y BrightStar - H 455 #90; ex S/Y Providence - H 400e #290)

marsella Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 21 June 2022 Location: Antigua Jolly H Status: Offline Points: 592	Post Options Post Reply Quote marsella Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20 March 2026 at 10:51
	Hi Richard, I am dropping my furling main every year before the boat goes to boatyard for hurricane storage, primarily to protect the sail from the sun. As i learned a small gap in the mast where the sail gets furled in exposes a small strip of the sail and uv damages it. The procedure is very similar to the jib (that one I do single handed a few times a year) but for the main sail I ask a local sailmaking company to deal with it. It takes them about 10 min to drop and pack the sail: a couple of guys come early morning when the winds are light, they start unfurling and remove batten by batten, once unfurled with battens gone they detach the sail foot both at tack and clew, and start lowering the main halyard. While the sail is dropping to the deck they make sure it does it in zigzag order so that when the sail is completely dropped its already folded. Finally they roll it and stow in a sailbag. Edited by marsella - 20 March 2026 at 10:55

Richard M Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commadore Joined: 06 November 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 376	Post Options Post Reply Quote Richard M Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20 March 2026 at 11:04
	As ever many thanks Marsella. I hadn't thought about asking the sail loft to do this. If I'm stuck (I hope not literally) I'll follow your suggestion. I'm thinking that as the weather window is small getting the team to attend may be difficult. Best wishes Richard
	Richard M (S/Y BrightStar - H 455 #90; ex S/Y Providence - H 400e #290)

Richard M Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commadore Joined: 06 November 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 376	Post Options Post Reply Quote Richard M Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 March 2026 at 15:48
	Surprisingly enough the sail drop was achieved. There was a bit more wind than we'd have wished - but the team of oldies succeeded and even flaked the sail neatly into the bag. 2 questions - there is a small amount of corrosion visible on the lower part of the tack tube. I don't think this is particularly important given its position. Has anyone else noticed this? (I'll try and post a photo; however I usually fail to do this) Also the part of the sail which remains exposed to UV (doesn't wind in to the mast) - UV strip - is quite dirty. Would it be advisable to replace all the UV strip or just the small lower triangle?
	Richard M (S/Y BrightStar - H 455 #90; ex S/Y Providence - H 400e #290)

marsella Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 21 June 2022 Location: Antigua Jolly H Status: Offline Points: 592	Post Options Post Reply Quote marsella Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 March 2026 at 16:04
	Congrats Richard! I bet that was easy. I cannot comment on the corrosion problem (mine is only 5 yo but i need to check) but for the triange that is always out - if its just dirty, maybe you can clean it. I actually use a dedicated sunbrella cover and wrap the triangle with it every time I am gone for a month or two. You may consider it to protect that tip. Edited by marsella - 23 March 2026 at 16:50

Richard M Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commadore Joined: 06 November 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 376	Post Options Post Reply Quote Richard M Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 March 2026 at 21:59
	Not sure that "easy" quite describes the operation! Getting the battens out was more challenging than expected. I've removed them before - but a long time ago. And the clew sheave needed a hammer to remove. Alu/SS corrosion again. But I think it will all go back together OK. The shackles (top and bottom) were not secured with monel wire or even cable ties. Whilst it is down I'll see what I can do to service the top bearing on the sliding sleeve. I recall Coquita's rigger used Super Lube Multi Purpose Synthetic Grease with Syncolon (PTFE). I'll try and see if I can gain access to the gears in the mast. As expected I failed to manage to post a photo. Thank you again for your help. That's a great tip to place some spare material over the UV strip exposed triangle. Best wishes Richard
	Richard M (S/Y BrightStar - H 455 #90; ex S/Y Providence - H 400e #290)

marsella Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 21 June 2022 Location: Antigua Jolly H Status: Offline Points: 592	Post Options Post Reply Quote marsella Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 March 2026 at 22:32
	Yes PTFE for greasing, Monel wire for shackles, I do it too. The battens - I remove (and place them back) when they just appear from the mast, the sail is straight at that point and it gets easy despite the wind. Best wishes!

Alex75 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commander Joined: 10 February 2022 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 106	Post Options Post Reply Quote Alex75 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 24 March 2026 at 15:19
	Avez-vous une photo de la couverture que vous installez, ainsi que ses dimensions ? merci

Alex75 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commander Joined: 10 February 2022 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 106	Post Options Post Reply Quote Alex75 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 24 March 2026 at 15:20
	Do you have a photo of the cover you're installing, along with its dimensions? Thanks

marsella Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 21 June 2022 Location: Antigua Jolly H Status: Offline Points: 592	Post Options Post Reply Quote marsella Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 24 March 2026 at 15:38
	Just a rectangular piece of sunbrellla fabric with some straps sewed over the edge. I can send you the dimensions later, but here is the pic how it wraps the tip of the sail Edited by marsella - 24 March 2026 at 15:39



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