A Sail That Surprised Me
Over my thirty years in the multihull world I have flown almost every type of sail, from monohulls and racing cats to luxury cruising multihulls. Yet every so often a piece of gear still manages to surprise me. That is exactly what happened when I installed a Furling Flat Reacher, or FFR, from OneSails on my own NEEL 47 trimaran.
Why the FFR Stands Out
If you want to simplify your sail inventory, improve light-air performance and reduce crew workload, the FFR may be the most versatile headsail you have never heard of. There is even a short video that shows the sail in action and proves how effortlessly it performs.
What Makes It Different
The Furling Flat Reacher is a specialized furling headsail designed by sailmakers such as OneSails to bridge the gap between a Code 0 and a gennaker. It is flatter and more upwind-capable than a gennaker, yet it offers more area and reaching power than a Code 0. Think of it as the Swiss Army knife of sails: not too flat, not too full, and ideal for a wide range of apparent wind angles.
Testing on My NEEL 47
When I fitted it to my NEEL 47, I wanted a headsail that could perform between fifty-five and one hundred-twenty degrees apparent wind without constant sail changes. Fast multihulls generate their own apparent wind and move the angles forward, so a flatter sail is essential. I needed something that furls quickly, is safe for solo or short-handed sailing, gives extra horsepower in light air, and remains stable upwind while still powerful on a deep reach. Peter Bresnan and his team at OneSails in Mallorca delivered exactly that.
Simple and Efficient
We flew the FFR on a continuous-line furler at the bow with a soft luff and no torsion cable, thanks to OneSails’ Integrated Furling Structure. The sail furls on itself like magic and can be set up in less than two minutes. No tangles and no drama.
Experience It Yourself
FLO our NEEL 47 trimaran, equipped with this remarkable sail, is available for captained charter in Sicily. It is the perfect way to see the FFR in action. Contact us for details and booking. And if you dream of owning a NEEL of your own, there are still a few build slots left at special anniversary pricing, but only for a limited time.
Always Something New
This sail has changed the way I cruise in light to moderate winds and has shown me once again that even after decades at sea there is always something new to discover.
