We are pleased to introduce KZ Racefurlers to the website. Racing sailors will need little introduction, as KZ have been gracing the bows of grand prix race boats for almost 30 years. The pedigree of this New Zealand based engineering firm is unquestionable with long term involvement in classes such as America’s Cup, mini-maxi, super-maxi VO70/65, Ultime trimaran, IMOCA 60 and TP52, where their focus on performance and reliability is put to the test day-in, day-out.
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Image credit: Ronan Grealish
In our previous blog we spoke with Ronan Grealish from North Sails on the topic of reaching sail configurations for doublehanded racing. In this blog we continue the conversation to take a closer look at the design philosophy and evolution of the code zero. Modern top-down furling code zeros such as those from North have come a long way since the traditional flappy leech sails of late.
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Image credit: Ronan Grealish
Reaching legs are an inevitable feature of coastal racing, and a good setup can produce some of the fastest and most stable sailing. We are talking about that range of off-wind angles, where an eased jib is no longer effective, but the TWA is still too tight for a spinnaker. This is where speciality reaching sails are needed. Exactly what these angles are depends on the boat and the wind strength, but for context lets assume a range of 060-120 TWA.
It is up to us, sailors, navigators, racers, and adventurers, to act for the preservation of the oceans, our wonderful playground. Innovations are flourishing, attitudes and habits are changing, and builders and designers are now giving priority to the eco-design of boats and fittings, and to the search for more ecological materials. In this blog we shine a spotlight on the innovative construction technology in the Eco Concept furler range, and say congratulations to Karver Systems for doing their bit for the environment.
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The NEXe from Profurl is an easy to retrofit electrically driven Code 0 ("Code Zero") or top-down gennaker furler. With the NEXe, you can furl / unfurl your sails, from anywhere on the boat, quickly with easily, and you will never have to manually furl your sails again!
How do I choose the right code zero or gennaker furling unit for my boat? Data from 8 well-known manufacturers is reviewed and conclusions drawn to help guide you to an appropriate unit for your needs.
