Self-tailing winch

Method of operating a self-tailing winch with a release function in order to either tighten or loosen a rope, sheet or halyard where the winch comprises:

• a stator body adapted to be fastened on a surface;
• a drum body arranged concentrically and rotatable around said stator body, where a mechanism is provided for allowing the drum body only to rotate in one direction;
• a self-tailing device arranged concentrically to said drum body, where said self-tailing device comprises:
• two self-tailing jaws defining an opening suitable to receive a rope, sheet or halyard;
• a self-tailing cover which is rotatable relative to the drum body and the self-tailing jaws;
• a releasable coupling arranged between the self-tailing cover and the self-tailing jaws, said coupling being able to couple the self-tailing jaws to the drum body and by manipulating the self-tailing cover completely releasing the self-tailing jaws from their engagement with the drum body, allowing the self-tailing jaws to rotate relative to the drum,
• where the rope, sheet or halyard to be handled is wound around the outside of the drum, and guided into the opening between the self-tailing jaws such that the rope, sheet or halyard may be tightened by rotating the drum, and locked by the jaws, and by manipulating the releasable coupling the jaws are liberated from their engagement with the drum, and allowed to rotate against the rotation direction of the drum, thereby letting rope, sheet or halyard off the self- tailing winch.