AeroLuffSpars Logo AeroLuffSpars Logo AeroLuffSpars Logo
Home Dinghies Purchasing Contact Us


 

The Aero Luff Spar – used with a standard furling system

  • A genoa furling system*, fitted to any type of dinghy or small sailing craft, allows the foresail to be furled around the luff wire to prevent the sail flogging when not in use.

  • Adding an Aero Luff Spar to any of the readily available furling systems will prevent the luff wire being deformed by the twisting action of the furling drum, and make the furling process more efficient, particularly in strong wind situations.

  • The Aero Luff Spar upgrades a furling system to a reefing system, allowing the size of the genoa to be adjusted to the strength of the wind, or the weight and/or strength of the crew.

  • The sail is secured by means of a unique plastic clamp and a tie to a loop sewn into the sail, to avoid the bulge in the luff of the genoa caused when a cringle is furled around the spar.

    • *(The only recommended types of furling system are those having an enclosed drum for the furling line).


The genoa peak is secured to the spar by means of a clamp and tie to withstand the downward force exerted by the genoa sheet in strong wind conditions.



The genoa tack is secured to the spar by means of a tie and plastic clamp with stainless steel cap screws and lock nuts. (A hexagonal socket key is supplied).


 

The Aero Furling Spar – has the bottom drum and top swivel incorporated within the spar

  • The lightweight spar provides an efficient aerodynamic entry shape for the genoa.

  • The top swivel and bottom drum are incorporated within the composite carbon spar.

  • The luff wire passes through the hollow centre of the spar, with the swaged solid eye terminals at either end of the wire attached to the bow fitting and genoa halyard – as with a standard genoa luff wire.

  • The top swivel and bottom drum rotate on Acetal bearings around the swaged solid eye terminals at either end of the luff wire.

  • The luff wire and swaged solid eye terminals take all the load that is applied when tensioning the genoa halyard.

  • With no loading applied to the drum and top swivel, (as is the case with all the separately bought systems), the spar is free to turn with virtually no frictional resistance.

  • The Aero Furling Spar is supplied complete with disc spacer to keep the forestay away from genoa luff.

The genoa peak is attached to the spar by a line tied between the sail and a fixed loop welded on the marine grade stainless steel end sleeve of the spar.

The Aero Furling Spar is supplied complete with disc spacer to keep the forestay away from genoa luff.


The genoa tack is secured to the furling drum by means of a clamp, with the luff tension being adjusted by a line to a
welded loop.

The genoa luff tension is not affected by tensioning the genoa halyard, since the sail is attached only to the spar and not the
luff wire.


An optional coupling raises the height of the foot of the genoa by some 30mm - a feature probably not preferred by racers, but not usually any problem for day sailors and cruisers.


The coupling allows the spar to be lowered into the boat without needing to detach it from the bow fitting - as is necessary without it.




 

Performance Sailing – the Aero Furling Spar has also been successfully used by racing sailors


  • The Aero Spar’s light weight and small very thin diameter enables genoa to be furled with minimal effect on the sail’s performance

  • Spar raises foot of genoa only 20 to 25mm higher than a standard racing genoa

  • Furling the genoa before the start of a race provides the helm with a clear vision for manoeuvring into an optimum position in the final countdown to the start gun

  • Furling the genoa on a run provides the crew with a clear vision for setting the spinnaker

  • Furling the genoa for launching prevents wear and tear on the sail caused by the sail flogging in stronger wind conditions

  • Furling the genoa when coming into land gives the helm better vision and more control

  • The solid eye ends of the spar fit to the bow and genoa halyard as any standard racing genoa

Wayfarer Racing roller reefing furing system

W10739 Arctic Fox approaching the windward mark in third place at the UKWA European Championships in Weymouth.
Wayfarer Racing roller reefing furing system

W10562 Fiüsa Beag under full sail with Monica Schaefer and Dave Moy, the overall winners of ‘The Shannon Raid’.


















W994 Peregrine – racing with an Aero Spar, and rounding the windward mark in race 9 at the 2013 Wayfarer International Championships, Toronto, ahead of: W10918 (4th)*; W1066 (13th)*; W10845 (2nd)*; W10844 (6th)*; W397 (3rd)*
*Denotes final placing at Championships.