Abstract: A spinnaker pole control system for a sailboat comprises an improved rigging arrangement, whereby the pole can be raised or lowered parallel to the deck, or dipped to allow jibing, by manipulation of a single control line. Improved pole control hardware simplifies preparation for flying a spinnaker and securing it when finished, and can be employed as a line stopper elsewhere.

Abstract: A marine sail having a plurality of batten attachment assemblies coupled thereto for supporting or shaping the sail body. Each of the batten attachment assemblies includes an elongated tubular pocket member, a pair of battens supported in the tubular pocket member with their longitudinal axes aligned and their inner ends overlapping, and a batten coupling and constraining assembly for limiting longitudinal movement of the battens in the tubular pocket member. In a first embodiment, the batten coupling and constraining assembly includes a pair of end caps interconnected by a pair of straps with a buckle for adjusting the compression of the battens in the tubular pocket member. In a second embodiment, the batten coupling and constraining assembly uses an elastic strap for interconnecting the pair of end caps for placing the battens under compression.

Abstract: The invetnion proves for flattening a cambered flexible sheet, usually a marine sail, by rolling a supporting edge of the sheet, typically the luff of a sail, on a rotatable support member. Applied to a sail, the invention provides a bolt rope and tape which effectively attaches only an intermediate portion of the luff to a rotatable stay member. A flexible material is also provided and this surrounds the stay member and extends over at least those portions of the luff which are not effectively attached to the stay member by the bolt rope and tape. When the sail is being reefed, that portion of the sail, which the bolt rope is attached to, is first wrapped around the stay member to reef the sail progressively in a flattening fashion.

Abstract: A marine sail having a moveable batten that can be shifted between an operative position when the sail is at least partially unfurled and a stowed position before or while the sail is being furled. In the stowed position, the batten is at least generally parallel to an edge of the sail. The batten is advantageously flexible and is supported in at least one pocket coupled to the sail. The batten is moved between the operative and stowed positions by a line and a pair of sheaves.

Abstract: Marine sail systems for controlling the folding or flaking of the sail during furling or reefing. The system includes a support line, a brailing line, a first mechanism connecting the brailing line to the sail in locations spaced generally along the leech of the sail, and a second mechanism connecting the brailing line to the support line to allow the brailing line to move upwardly and downwardly along the support line as the sail is raised and lowered, respectively.

Abstract: A marine sail having a pocket, or double ply section, at the luff and a plurality of elongated battens which are attached to the sail at the leech and which extend forwardly along the sail and project through openings at the trailing edge of the double ply section so that the forward end portions of the battens are enclosed within the double ply section. The sail is furled into, and bagged within, the double ply section, and lines are provided within the double ply section for progressively pivoting the battens and moving them upwardly along the pocket during furling so that, when furling is completed, all of the battens are disposed in generally upright positions within the bag formed by the double ply section.

Abstract: Working sails are simultaneously furled and bagged by providing at the head of the sail a collapsed bag which is open at its foot end and has two forward edges each slidably attached to, e.g., a bolt rope on a different side of the luff, and by remote operations pulling the bag downwardly to furl the sail from leech to luff and to enclose the furled sail.

Abstract: Working sails are furled remotely while aloft by progressively forming flexible sheet material along the forepart of the sail into a tubular bag containing the sail furled from leech to luff in such fashion that, when furling and bagging of the sail has been completed the lines employed for furling are contained with the sail in the bag.

Abstract: Working sails, typically headsails and mainsails, are furled while aloft by providing flexible sheet material extending along the sail from head to foot, at least preliminarily furling the sail from leech to luff, progressively forming the flexible sheet material into a tubular bag extending from head to foot and enclosing the furled sail, and progressively securing the bag against opening.