FlatDeck is the first furling system fitted with a webbing. This great Facnor innovation offers safe and easy headsail furling: no reefing line overridding and an important torque. Overall, with the FD low profil drum, you benefit from a maximum luff !

Monday June 29th 09 - On board of the 50-footer "Jolokia", the six-member crew (including three disabled men) will attempt the "Spice Odyssey" in 2010, an ocean record 9000 miles long between Groix Island (French Brittany) and Mauritius via the Cape of Good Hope. Their aim: « to show that the disability, well integrated in a project, can be a asset and not a brake ». To take part into to this venture, the first challenge has been technical: how to adapt the boat equipment to reduced mobility. Facnor Team was touched by this project mixing venture and disability in a sailing environment. So, as technical partner, Facnor got involved into the project by supplying furling gears for the Genoa (LS290) and Staysail (LS200). Those furling systems are already installed on board of the red boat* (their slogan: « the disability gives spice to the crew members»). This 50 footer was launched last 4th June in La Rochelle Harbour: the crew training on "Jolokia" can start!

*The Bhut jolokia is a variety of red pepper.

For further information: http://www.rnh-asso.fr/defiintegration

Y. Zedda

Thuesday 19th may 09 - Franck and his crew have snatched a fifth reference time, improving on the previous record of 17 hours 56 minutes and 33 seconds, by 48 minutes and 10 seconds. Groupama 3 covered the 458 miles separating Marseilles from Carthage at an average speed of 26.72 knots, compared with an average of 25.53 knots for  Orange II. 

A year and a half after their capsize during the Jules Verne Trophy attempt, this performance augurs well for the next stage in the program of Groupama 3, wich is indeed fitted with Facnor furlers. Facnor team is very proud of the technical partnership launched with Groupama 1 in 1988. Successful story : Columbus Route 2007, Miami / New York 2007, North Atlantic crossing and 24 hours sailing records 2007, Jules Verne Trophy - 2007 / 2008 record attempt. Next stages this year : the North Atlantic record afresh and the Jules Verne Trophy.

Among all the tests carried, the American independent magazine Practical Sailor has selected the Facnor FX2500 furler as a 2009 Editor’s Choice product! Let’s mention thatPractical Sailor is a subscription-supported magazine that accepts no advertising.

In March 2008, the Facnor Fx2500 Gennaker furler had been classified by the same magazine at the top of the tested range (seven different trademarks). As the feature concludes,“the Facnor Fx2500 did stand out enough to get our cream-of the-crop nod for PS Best Choice”, in other wordsto be the best of the best.

Facnor, the world leader in continuous line Gennaker furlers, introduces a unique and modern design for headsail furling systems. This range of new products was developed from our experience with designing continuous line furlers for ocean racing teams. Now sailors can enjoy the benefits of our innovative continuous line system on any boat. The “Future Furler” allows sailors to reef headsails quickly and safely using the same innovative system used by single-handed and multihull ocean racing yachts.