Image Credit: PROtect Tapes

Plastic pollution is no secret - and its impact has been particularly damaging for our oceans and sea life. This can feel especially hard to stomach in the sailing circle: as ocean lovers, it is hard to admit that our racing or cruising might be having a negative impact on the environment.

Image credit: Karver

BY ANDY RICE, INTERVIEWING BJARNE LORENZEN

In part three of this blog series, Bjarne Lorenzen of sailmaker Doyle O’leu explains the benefits of top-down furling, one of the big developments of the past decade which has trickled down to the cruising scene from the Volvo Ocean Race.

Florence based Ubi Maior Italia are breaking boundaries with their patented Jiber Furling System – a structural furling forestay system with the benefits of a traditional furling system.

BY ANDY RICE, INTERVIEWING BJARNE LORENZEN
Image Credit: Bjarne Lorenzen, Meike Brunssen Knierim Yachtbau

In the last blog, Bjarne Lorenzen of sailmaker Doyle O’leu talked about the exciting new performance cruiser, the 39BEN built by Bente in Germany. While the sail plan will develop over time, the code zero was one of the first sails to go into the inventory. Here, Lorenzen explains the appeal of the code zero, a sail that emerged from the offshore racing world and is now firmly established as an essential part of a modern cruising sail package.

Image credit: Facnor

You have decided to go for a new code zero or downwind asymmetric. To ensure the furling system fits your boat, it is important to take a physical measurement of the maximum space available from the attachment point of the drum to the full hoist halyard position.

Loop Products are a German firm who pride themselves on hard work and innovation. Formed in 2005, Loop Products is the brainchild of Kohlhoff GmbH – a deck hardware specialist and wholesaler of top brands since 1991.

 

By: Nick Black/Andy Rice

The final in our series on lock systems for sailing yachts, Andy Rice talks to Nick Black - from Rigging Projects - about mainsail locks.

Image Credit: FSE Robline

 

What is a mooring line?

Arguably, one of the most important pieces of kit onboard your boat is a mooring line; it’s all well and good having a great boat, but if you can’t safely secure it at the quay, harbour or pier then you’re in real trouble. 

Image Credit: Velocitek and Paul Todd/OUTSIDEIMAGES.COM

Located on the North shore of Hawaiian island Maui, Velocitek are a marine electronics firm who are – amongst other things - passionate about spending time on the water. When they’re not busy sailing or surfing – or fighting for the protection of our lakes and oceans - Velocitek work hard to design beautifully simple, intuitive and elegant marine electronics with top flight functionality, helping sailors of all levels to enjoy peak performance on the water.

At some point in our lives, we have all experienced the vice-like grip of the 'Chinese finger trap'; when pulled, the cylindrical, woven braid is designed to contract and constrain the finger. It is this mechanism that forms the simple premise behind French brand Cousin Trestec’s rope ‘constrictor’.