COVID-19 has caused me to reflect on my sailing habits. I normally sail with complement of 4 (myself plus 3 others) for extended periods of time - ie sleeping on board - on my Hanse 455. These are usually long-standing sailing friends. However despite all the protections that might be taken "social distancing" just isn't possible on most sailing yachts. So my mind has turned to how I might continue to sail - but either single or short handed - for example with young grandchildren.
BrightStar has Selden in mast furling which generally works well - but it usually requires one person operating the outhaul line on the port side and another operating the furling lines (continuous loop) on the starboard side - and also the engine. Additionally someone has to go forward at some point to the foredeck to operate the "In - Out" ratchet on the mast. I've done all these activities on my own without great difficulty - but never in testing conditions.
So I've decided to have retrofitted the Selden electric in mast furling system: http://www.seldenmast.com/smf/" rel="nofollow - http://www.seldenmast.com/smf/ . This should give me push button control of the main sail from a console.
I'd be very interested to hear if anyone has done the same - and how it has worked out.
Many thanks
Richard
------------- Richard M
(S/Y BrightStar - H 455 #90; ex S/Y Providence - H 400e #290)
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