If you’ve never heard of Ubi Maior, check out the equipment list of Emirates Team New Zealand’s Cup-winning catamaran and you’ll see the name there. The highly regarded Italian sailing hardware company is new to the U.S. market and one of its signature products is the Jiber, a unique headsail furler that does not depend on an aluminum extrusion to harness the luff of the sail. Instead, the furler is integral to a rod (or anti-torsion fiber) forestay that rotates to reduce sail. The sail is attached to the forestay with soft hanks or a zip bag, so can be dropped and hoisted just like a hanked-on sail; luff tension can be adjusted, and the sail can be reefed. Up to 60lb of weight aloft is saved by not using an extrusion, along with a reduction in windage and drag, so this furler is bound to prove popular with performance-minded sailors. There are three sizes, with choices of endless line or conventional furling drums, to suit boats from 30ft to 52ft.
Sample price $2,770 (30-37ft boat). Ubi Maior/Euro Marine Trading, euromarinetrading.com
