Page "Sailing" Paragraph 63

Mainsail furling systems have become increasingly popular on cruising yachts, as they can be operated shorthanded and from the cockpit, in most cases.

However, the sail can become jammed in the mast or boom slot if not operated correctly.

Mainsail furling is almost never used while racing because it results in a less efficient sail profile.

The classical slab-reefing method is the most widely used.

Mainsail furling has an additional disadvantage in that its complicated gear may somewhat increase weight aloft.

However, as the size of the boat increases, the benefits of mainsail roller furling increase dramatically.