Furling Main Sail - selden

The winch at the mast has two positions rachet and free. Rachet only allows the sail to furl in (very useful in strong winds). The free position allows the sail to furl either in or out and is controlled with the endless furling loop. As others have suggested, an alternative to the endless loop is to use the winch at the mast.  When unfurling the sail the sail is unfurled with the outhaul and the amount of sail unfurled is controlled by the endless furling loop. 

In a 💡 moment I suddenly realised what I was doing wrong 🤦🏼.  When unfurling the sail I had been using the furl out side of the endless loop.  I should have been controlling the deployment of the sail with the furl in side of the endless loop. The instructions in the selden manual do not make that critical point. 

So to be absolutely clear when unfurling the sail set the ratchet to free, unfurl the sail with the outhaul and keep tension on the Furl In side of the endless loop and lock off the Furl in side of the endless loop if you don’t want all the sail out.  Adjust tension on the outhaul to give the desired curve in the foot of the sail to match the strength of the wind. 

Furling in the sail is the reverse.Because the sail furls anti-clockwise always make sure you are on starboard tack before furling in (and out) the sail.  Furl in the sail with the furl in side of the endless loop keeping tension on the outhaul to make sure the sail furls tightly in the mast and doesn’t bunch or bag which will lead to jamming. You need to keep the leech of the sail tight during the furling process and we have found the best way to do this is to adjust vang tension to ensure the boom is exactly at 90 degrees to the mast. 

Like most things in life simple when you know how.  What is disappointing an email to Selden requesting clarification remains unanswered.  Hopefully this information will be beneficial for others. Thankyou to all those who came to my assistance.