Hello everyone!

Thank you for joining us for this new SailHero tutorial. Today, we're going to look at how to lower and hoist an in-mast furling mainsail. It may seem like a simple operation, but it requires a few precautions to avoid jamming the sail or damaging the furling system.

Before you start

To work in good conditions, choose a day with light winds and, if possible, position the boat head to wind. This will put much less load on the sail and make the operation easier.

Tools required

You will simply need:

a winch handle;

a pair of pliers;

a set of Allen keys and/or a multi-purpose screwdriver.

1. Prepare the lines

Before doing anything, start by preparing the different lines:

the mainsail halyard;

the furling line;

the outhaul.

Make sure the lines can run freely, without being crossed, trapped or under unnecessary tension.

This step is important: a poorly prepared line can quickly cause the sail to jam while lowering or hoisting it.

2. Prepare access to the sail tack

Remove the access door or doors so that you can easily reach the sail tack.

This will also give you access to the head swivel once it has been lowered.

Take this opportunity to visually inspect the system and make sure there are no trapped lines, loose screws or other abnormalities.

3. Fully unfurl the mainsail

Before removing the sail, you first need to fully unfurl it.

Carry out this operation gradually and smoothly.

Once the sail is completely unfurled, make sure it is free and that there is no remaining tension on it.

4. Lower the mainsail

You can now start lowering the mainsail.

Lower the sail gradually, controlling the halyard and guiding the sail as it comes down.

Do not allow the sail to drop suddenly, as this could damage the head swivel or other components of the system.

Once the sail is low enough, you can access the different attachment points.

5. Disconnect the sail

Disconnect the sail in the following order:

the headboard;

the tack;

the clew.

Take the time to note the position of the different components before removing them. This will make reinstallation much easier.

Once the sail is completely disconnected, you can remove it from the boat and prepare it for storage or servicing.

💡 SailHero Tip

Once the sail has been removed, we recommend connecting the outhaul directly to the swivel, then hoisting the swivel to approximately mid-height.

This prevents the furling foils from dropping down and hitting against the mast.

It is a simple step that helps protect the system while the sail is removed and during maintenance work.

6. And how do you hoist the mainsail?

Reinstallation is essentially the reverse of the removal process, but a few precautions are important.

Before hoisting the sail, check that:

the furling foils are correctly positioned;

the sail is not twisted;

the attachment points are accessible;

the halyard can run freely;

the furling line and outhaul are correctly prepared.

If you feel any unusual resistance, stop pulling immediately.

Never try to free the system by forcing the winch. Resistance may be caused by incorrect alignment, a line that has not been properly engaged, or a furling foil that is not correctly positioned.

Once the sail is fully hoisted, tension it normally.

9. Furling the mainsail

To finish, furl the sail slowly the first time to check that it is entering the mast correctly.

The furling line should remain properly guided and the sail should furl smoothly, without excessive creases or hard spots.

And as always, if you have any doubts about your system, how it operates or its condition, don't hesitate to contact us at SailHero. We can help you diagnose, maintain or repair your furling system.

If you'd like us to cover another subject in one of our next tutorials, let us know! We're also happy to provide further information if you need clarification about any of the procedures shown in this video.

Fair winds, and see you soon for another SailHero tutorial!