Stayed roller furler

A wind powered craft comprising a generally vertical mast which is rotatable about its vertical axis;

• a sail carried by said mast with its bottom edge attached in proximity to the bottom of the mast and extending to an attachment point in proximity to the top of the mast;
• a first member having an open end and partially extending around said mast, the mast being rotatable within said member;
• a bearing mounted stationary second member at the top of the mast and carried by the mast while allowing the mast to rotate;
• at least one support stay running from said first member to said bearing mounted second member to support said first member;
• additional stays attached to said first member and splayed to attach to opposed sides of the hull of the watercraft, said sail being reefed around said mast through the open end of said first member by rotation of the mast;
• said sail being adapted to be reefed by furling completely around said mast by passing freely through the open end of said first member upon rotation of the mast.

A watercraft comprising a generally vertical mast which is rotatable about its vertical axis;

• a sail carried by said mast with its bottom edge attached in proximity to the bottom of the mast and extending to an attachment point in proximity to the top of the mast;
• a generally horseshoe-shaped member having an open end and partially extending around said mast, the mast being rotatable within the horseshoe-shaped member;
• a bearing mounted stationary member at the top of the mast and carried by the mast while allowing the mast to rotate;
• at least one support stay running from said horseshoe-shaped member to said bearing mounted member to support the horseshoe-shaped member;
• said sail being adapted to be reefed by furling completely around said mast by passing freely through the open end of said generally horseshoe-shaped member upon rotation of the mast.