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Image Credit: Andersen Winches

Andersen Winches are a big name in the boating business. Designed and manufactured in Denmark, Andersen Winches have earnt a reputation for building first class, high quality winches.

Although often overlooked and forgotten, lifelines are one of the most critical safety components on our boats. Whilst they are something to lean against whilst cruising, or hiked from when racing, their most important role is to act as the last and final attempt to keep your crew member safely onboard your boat.

When it comes to furling cables, custom top-down cables (for loose luff, asymmetrical gennakers) and bottom-up cables (for code zeros and staysails) can sometimes be expensive. For small to medium sized racing and cruising sailboats (up to 45ft), torsional rope can often be a viable and cost-effective alternative for performance furling systems.

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.