Winch for roller reefing

A winch for rotating a fairing about a stay on a sailing vessel, the fairing having a sail attached thereto for roller reefing of the sail in a spiral wind about the fairing, the winch comprising:

• a normally stationary shaft having a shaft for driving a clutch;
• a high mechanical advantage clutch member having a first clutch member and a second clutch member relatively movable with respect to each other between positions of normal engagement and a position of disengagement;
• said first clutch member mounted for one way rotation relative to the vessel in a first direction to permit said sail to be gathered to said fairing for the reefing of said sail;
• said second clutch member having a peripheral portion driven from said normally stationary shaft said second clutch member attached to said fairing for rotation with said fairing for reefing in and reefing out said sail;
• a clutch engagement member positioned between said normally stationary shaft and said fairing, said clutch engagement member urging said clutch into said normally engaged position responsive to torque transmitted between said normally stationary shaft and said fairing;
• and,
• driving means attached to said normally stationary shaft for maintaining said shaft stationary during nondriving operation, rotating said first and second clutch members in a first direction for engaging said clutch and taking in said sail, and rotating said second clutch member in a second and opposite direction for temporarily disengaging said clutch to permit release of said sail corresponding to the rotation of said normally stationary shaft.