Furl (sailing)
Encyclopedia
Furling refers to stowing or dousing a boat's sail
by flaking (folding), packing (like stuffing a spinnaker
into a turtle), roller furling
or just lowering it onto the deck
. Nowadays, it is becoming more common to use the term "furling" to refer to reefing
a sail that is part of a roller furling system.
Sail
A sail is any type of surface intended to move a vessel, vehicle or rotor by being placed in a wind—in essence a propulsion wing. Sails are used in sailing.-History of sails:...
by flaking (folding), packing (like stuffing a spinnaker
Spinnaker
A spinnaker is a special type of sail that is designed specifically for sailing off the wind from a reaching course to a downwind, i.e. with the wind 90°–180° off the bow. The spinnaker fills with wind and balloons out in front of the boat when it is deployed, called flying. It is constructed of...
into a turtle), roller furling
Roller furling
Roller furling is a method of furling or reefing wherein a sail is rolled around a stay or rotating spar. Roller furling is most commonly encountered on foresails, such as jibs, with mainsails a distant second.-Furling methods:...
or just lowering it onto the deck
Deck (ship)
A deck is a permanent covering over a compartment or a hull of a ship. On a boat or ship, the primary deck is the horizontal structure which forms the 'roof' for the hull, which both strengthens the hull and serves as the primary working surface...
. Nowadays, it is becoming more common to use the term "furling" to refer to reefing
Reefing
Reefing is a sailing manoeuvre intended to reduce the area of a sail on a sailboat or sailing ship, which can improve the ship's stability and reduce the risk of capsizing, broaching, or damaging sails or boat hardware in a strong wind...
a sail that is part of a roller furling system.