Hi all,
finally I got some feedback about the first test sail of the Javelin 16 with a special regard to the furling gennaker. I can assure you that the gennaker utilized in the test is fully compliant with the ISAF rule (i.e. SMG >75% SF).
Therefore the Javelin 16 Portsmouth or Texel rating will not be affected and the boat will not be penalized in Open regattas.
Secondly, since the Javelin 16 gennaker is not designed for close reach, it is not going to put any more stress on the platform than a conventional (conventionally rigged) spinnaker.
With regard to the windage the Jav 16 spinnaker (when furled) has a diameter of 5 cm or 2 inches, so that it seems OK also from this point of view.
With regard to the weight the furling system is 1-1,5 kg or 2-3 lbs lighter than a common snuffer system (no need of snuffer, snuffer bag, spi halyard block, tack block, cleats etc)
The only modification needed seems a slightly modified spinnaker design (with a somewhat flatter luff).
If you consider that a furling spinnaker can be easily operated also by a single (quite unexperienced) helmsman and that you can hoist (unfurl) it while rounding the upwind buoy and douse (furl) it while roundind the downwind buoy...
The system looks so promising that it will be tested in the next few weeks also on the Javelin 2.
The system has only a drawback:
it works only on boats fitted with high masts (unirigged) and high aspect spinnaker (short footed).