Just adding a team shot taken before our start in Las Palmas.

Last night was a high energy sailing night, all hands being rousted twice from their bunks to execute a gybe in 16kn winds with the Code 0 flying. Being a non-racing crew, we furl the Code 0 up, gybe the main and pull the big headsail out on the opposite tack. This can be tricky. First, its imperative to have the as luff tight as a drum to furl properly. We have a Facnor roller furler for Code 0 sails. We have been doing jousting matches with this thing since we left France. Twice we had to pull the sail down by hand without furlng because of furler malfunctions, more related to the tack line setup then the facnor. Although a lot of problems went away when I sprayed a healthy dose of silicon lube in the swivel at the head of the sail. Furling such a large sail is a symphony between the furler and the sheet handler as the timing and pressure on the sail as it rolls is fairly critical. This furler begins its furl at the bottom and it works up. Prior to the silicon treatment the top was lagging behind the bottom and it could be a mess. Now it works well so long as the pressure on the sail is controlled as the sail comes in. But as everyone on a long sail journey knows, you work with what you have and take care of it.

Well that's my take on the Facnor roller furling system and my Code 0.