FR2980765A1 - SYSTEM FOR WINDING A FORWARD SAIL AROUND A SUPPORT STATUS OF A MATT OF A SAILBOAT - Google Patents

Abstract

This winding system comprises a first element (2) intended to be fixed in the upper part of a mast (3), and on which is intended to be fixed the upper end of a support strut (4) of the mat a second element (5) adapted to be mounted movably along the strut and on which the upper corner of the front sail (6) is to be mounted, locking means movable between a locking position of the second element (5) on the first element (2), and an unlocking position of the second element (5), and remote control means arranged to control the displacement of the locking means to their unlocking position.

Description

The present invention relates to a system for winding a front sail around a stay supporting a mast of a sailboat, and more particularly a winding system of a forward sail directly around a sail. a support stay of a mast of a sailboat.

A winding system of a front sail comprises in known manner: a first element comprising a first fixing portion intended to be fixed in the upper part of the mast, and a second fixing portion on which is intended to be fixed. the upper end of the support stay, the second fixing portion being rotatably mounted relative to the first attachment portion, - a second member adapted to be mounted to move on the support strut so as to allow a moving the second member along the support stay, and having a first mounting portion on which is mounted the upper corner of the forward sail, and a second mounting portion on which is intended to be mounted a halyard of the sailboat, and - a third element comprising a first fixing portion intended to be fixed on the deck of the sailboat, and a second portion fixing on which is fixed to the lower end of the support stay, the second fixing portion being rotatably mounted relative to the first fixing portion. According to such a winding system, the first and third elements are arranged to allow, in use, a rotation of the support stay about its axis so as to allow the winding of the forward sail directly. around the support stay which then forms a winding mandrel. To hoist and fix a forward sail using such a winding system, it is advisable to use a halyard of the sailboat circulating in a pulley fixed permanently at the top of the mast, to connect a first end of the halyard at the second mounting portion of the second element, to exert traction on a second end of the halyard so as to position the forward sail, and finally to block the second end of the halyard at the foot of the mast.

Such a method of fixing the front sail requires the use of a halyard of the sailboat to maintain the position of the forward sail. Thus, this halyard can no longer be used for any other operation while the forward sail is hoisted. In addition, such a method of fixing the forward sail involves short but repeated movements of the second element along the support strut, which imposes the use of such a winding system. with a metal support stay to prevent premature wear of the latter. However, a metal support stay does not ensure a satisfactory torque transmission to the forward sail when the latter is wrapped around the support stay. Thus, in order to ensure optimum winding of the nosewheel around a metal support strut, the winding system described above is only used on sailboats of low height. The present invention aims to remedy these disadvantages. The technical problem underlying the invention therefore consists in providing a system for winding a sail that is simple and economical in structure and that can be used on any type of sailboat. To this end, the present invention relates to a system for winding a sail forward around a support stay of a mast of a sailboat, comprising: a first element and a second element, one first and second members being adapted to be attached on the one hand to an upper part of the mast, and on the other hand to the upper end of the support strut, and being arranged or shaped to allow, under the condition of use, a rotation of the support stay about its axis, the other of the first and second elements being adapted to be fixed on the upper corner of the forward sail, and being intended to be moved along the the suspension system being characterized in that it further comprises: locking means movable between a locking position of the first and second elements one on the other, and an unlocking position of the first and second elements, and means of e remote control arranged to control the movement of the locking means to their unlocking position. The presence of the locking means allows a locking of the second element on the first element, which avoids any displacement of the first and second elements relative to the support strut. Thus, the winding system according to the invention can be used on a sailboat provided with a non-metallic support strut, and for example textile, without risk of premature wear of the latter. Since a textile support strut provides optimum torque transmission to the forward sail when wrapped around the support strut, regardless of the size of the forward sail and the support forest, the winding system according to the invention is therefore usable on sailboats of great heights. In addition, because of the presence of the locking means, the halyard used to hoist the element to which the front sail is attached can be disconnected from this element after locking it on the other element, and then used for other applications. The presence of the remote control means makes it possible to ensure that the front sail is balanced without having to climb to the top of the mast, which makes it possible to secure the user during the slacking of the sail. Advantageously, the element adapted to be fixed on the upper part of the mast comprises a first fixing portion intended to be fixed on the upper part of the mast, and a second fixing portion on which is intended to be fixed the upper end of the mast. the strut, the second fastening portion being mounted free to rotate relative to the first fastening portion so as to allow, in use, a rotation of the support strut about its axis. The second fixing portion is advantageously rotatably mounted relative to the first fixing portion about a rotation axis substantially parallel to the axis of the first fixing portion. Preferably, the element adapted to be fixed on the upper corner of the forward sail comprises a first mounting portion on which is intended to be mounted the upper corner of the forward sail, and a second mounting portion on which is intended to be mounted a halyard of the sailboat. According to one embodiment of the invention, the element adapted to be fixed on the upper corner of the forward sail is adapted to be mounted on the support strut so as to allow movement of said element along the 'prop. Preferably, the element adapted to be mounted movably on the strut defines a passage conduit for the passage of the strut.

Preferably, the second element comprises a tubular portion adapted to receive the first element in the locking position of the second element on the first element. Advantageously, the locking means comprise a plurality of balls each mounted in a through bore formed in the tubular portion of the second element, each ball being movable between a locking position in which it cooperates with the first element so as to lock the first and second elements one on the other, and an unlock position.

Preferably, each ball in the locking position protrudes inside the sleeve and each ball in the unlocked position does not protrude inside the sleeve. Each ball is advantageously displaceable radially between its locking and unlocking positions.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the second element comprises an outer ring slidably mounted around the tubular portion of the second element substantially along the axis of the tubular portion between a first position in which the outer ring blocks each ball in its locking position, and a second position in which the outer ring allows a movement of each ball to its unlocked position. According to one embodiment of the invention, the outer ring is rotatably mounted relative to the tubular portion of the second element. According to one embodiment of the invention, the second element 25 comprises an inner ring slidably mounted in the tubular portion of the second element substantially along the axis of the tubular portion between a first position in which the inner ring blocks each ball in its unlocking position, and a second position in which the inner ring allows a movement of each ball to its locking position. Preferably, the balls in the unlocking position are arranged to immobilize the outer ring in its second position, and the balls in the locking position are arranged to release the outer ring and allow movement of the outer ring to its first position. Preferably, the first element comprises an actuating portion arranged to cooperate with the inner ring and move the latter to its second position when the tubular portion of the second element accommodates the first element. According to one embodiment of the invention, the outer ring comprises a first portion having a first inner diameter and a second portion having a second inner diameter greater than the first diameter, the first portion being arranged to cooperate with the balls and immobilize these last in their locking position when the outer ring is in its first position, the second portion being arranged to allow a movement of the balls to their unlocking position when the outer ring is in its second position. Preferably, the outer ring has an inclined ramp formed on the inner surface of the outer ring and arranged to bias the balls towards their locking position during movement of the outer ring to its first position. The inclined ramp is preferentially formed between the first and second portions of the outer ring. Advantageously, the second element comprises first return means arranged to bias the outer ring towards its first position. Advantageously, the second element comprises second return means arranged to bias the inner ring towards its first position. According to a characteristic of the invention, the first element comprises an annular groove adapted to receive the balls in the locking position of the second element on the first element. According to one embodiment of the invention, the control means comprise a traction member, such as a rope, cable or the like, connected to the outer ring and arranged to move the outer ring to its second position when a traction is exerted on the traction member. Advantageously, the second mounting portion is formed by a handle mounted on the outer ring. According to this embodiment of the invention, the traction member is fixed on the handle mounted on the outer ring. Preferably, the winding system comprises a third element intended to be mounted on the deck of the sailboat and on which is intended to be mounted the lower end of the strut, the third element being arranged to allow, under the condition of use, a rotation of the support strut around its axis. The third element preferably comprises a first fixing portion intended to be fixed on the deck of the sailboat, and a second fixing portion 5 on which is intended to be fixed the lower end of the strut, the second fixing portion being mounted free to rotate relative to the first fixing portion so as to allow, in use, a rotation of the support strut about its axis. The second securing portion of the third member is preferably arranged to allow rotation of the support strut about its axis. The second fixing portion of the third element is for example formed by a drum or a drive turret. Preferably, the second element is adapted to be mounted movably along the strut and adapted to be fixed on the upper corner of the forward sail. The tubular portion of the second element defines the passage duct of the second element, the passage duct being intended to receive the first element in the locking position of the latter. The winding system advantageously comprises stop means arranged to limit the displacement stroke of the outer ring towards its first position, and preferably stop means arranged to limit the displacement stroke of the inner ring towards its first position. . The winding system preferably comprises at least one lock indicator, advantageously of bright color, designed to signal a state of locking or unlocking of the second element on the first element. The present invention further relates to a method of hoisting a sail of the front of a sailboat, comprising the following steps: a) providing a winding system according to the invention, b) fixing one first and second elements on the one hand on the upper part of a mast of the sailboat, and on the other hand on the upper end of a support stay of the mast, c) to fix the other of the first and second elements on the upper corner of the forward sail, d) attaching a halyard of the sailboat to the member on which the upper corner of the forward sail is fixed, e) exerting traction on the halyard so as to displace the halyard. the element on which is fixed the upper corner of the forward sail along the support strut 5 towards the upper end of the support strut in order to lock the first and second elements one on the other, f) Disconnect the halyard from the element on which the upper corner of the sail is attached. before. The step of disconnecting the halyard makes it possible to avoid any risk of winding the halyard around the support stay during winding of the forward sail around the halyard. Advantageously, step d) comprises the steps of: - mounting a carabiner with a load opening on the halyard of the sailboat, the carabiner with load opening comprising a portion 15 forming a hook movable between a hooking position and a position of release, and movable locking means between a locking position of the hook portion in the latching position and a release position of the hook portion, - connecting a rope or the like to the locking means of the carabiner of such so that a pull on the rope causes a displacement of the locking means to their release position, - connect the carabiner to opening under load to the element on which is fixed the upper corner of the sail before. Preferably, step f) is to exert traction on the rope connected to the locking means of the carabiner so as to move the latter to their release position to release the element on which is fixed the upper corner of the sail from before. Advantageously, the step of connecting a rope or the like to the locking means of the carabiner comprises a step of connecting a textile ring to the locking means, for example by knotting, and a step of connecting the rope or the like to the textile ring. Preferably, step c) comprises a step of mounting the other of the first and second elements on the support strut.

Advantageously, the hoisting method comprises a step of introducing the traction member belonging to the control means in the sheath of the forward sail. Step e) can for example be performed using a winch of the boat. In any case the invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows with reference to the appended schematic drawing showing, by way of non-limiting example, an embodiment of this winding system.

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a sailboat equipped with a winding system according to the invention showing the sail of the sail partially hoist. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a first element of the winding system according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a second element of the winding system according to the invention. Figure 4 is an exploded view of the second element of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a perspective view of a third element of the winding system according to the invention.

Figures 6, 8 and 10 are partial perspective views of the winding system according to the invention showing the first and second elements in three different operating positions. Figures 7, 9 and 11 are partial sectional views of the winding system according to the invention showing the first and second members respectively in the operating positions shown in Figures 6, 8 and 10. Figures 12 and 13 are perspective views of a carabiner with a load opening respectively in the closed position and in the open position. As shown more particularly in FIG. 1, the winding system according to the invention comprises a first element 2 intended to be fastened in the upper part of a mast 3 of a sailboat and on which is intended to be fixed. upper end of a support stay 4 of the mast 3, a second element 5 adapted to be mounted movably around and along the support strut 4 35 of the mast 3 and on which is intended to mount the upper corner of a fore sail 6, and a third member 8 to be fixed on the deck 9 of the sailboat and on 2 980 765 9 which is intended to be fixed at the lower end of the support strut 4. The first and third elements are arranged to allow, in use, a rotation of the support strut around its axis so as to allow the winding of the forward sail directly around the support strut which then forms a mandrel winding. As shown more particularly in FIG. 2, the first element 2 is formed by a swivel. The first element 2 comprises a first fixing portion 11 intended to be fixed in the upper part of the mast 3, and a second fixing portion 12 on which is fixed the upper end of the support strut 4. The second fixing portion 12 is rotatably mounted relative to the first fixing portion 11 about an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the axis of the first portion 11. The second fixing portion 12 comprises a threaded portion 13 15 arranged to cooperate with a threaded portion 14 formed at the upper end of the support strut 4. The second fastening portion 12 also has an annular groove 15 extended towards the threaded portion 14 by an annular projection 16. The second element 5 comprises a tubular sleeve 17 defining a passage duct 18 for the passage of the support strut 4, as shown in particular on the Figure 7. The passage duct 18 is further adapted to receive the first member 2 in the locking position of the second member 5 on the first member 2, as will be explained below.

The second element 5 further comprises two mounting eyelets 19 secured to one end of the tubular sleeve 17 and intended for mounting the upper corner of the front sail 6. The tubular sleeve 17 has a plurality of bores 21 formed radially through the wall of the tubular sleeve 17. Each bore 21 forms a housing for a locking ball 22. Each ball 22 is movable radially between a locking position (shown in Figure 11) in which it projects inside the sleeve 17 and an unlocking position (shown in FIG. 7) in which it does not project inside the sleeve 17. Each ball 22 in the locked position is intended to be received in the annular groove 15 formed in the first element 2 .

The second element 5 further comprises an outer ring 23 slidably mounted around the tubular sleeve 17 along the axis of the tubular sleeve 17 between a first position in which the outer ring 23 biases each ball 22 to its locking position, and a second position in which the outer ring 23 allows a movement of each ball 22 to its unlocked position. The outer ring 23 has a first portion 24 having a first inner diameter and a second portion 25 having a second inner diameter greater than the first diameter. The first portion 24 is arranged to cooperate with the balls 22 and immobilize the latter in their locking position when the outer ring 23 is in its first position, while the second portion 25 is arranged to allow movement of the balls 22 to their position unlocking when the outer ring 23 is in its second position.

The outer ring 23 further comprises an inclined ramp 26 formed on the inner surface of the outer ring 23 and between the first and second portions 24, 25. The inclined ramp 26 is arranged to bias the balls 22 towards their locking position during the moving the outer ring 23 to its first position.

According to the embodiment of the invention shown in the figures, the outer ring 23 comprises a body 23a made of synthetic material, and a metal insert 23b immobilized with respect to the body 23a with the help of a ring of retainer 27 mounted on the body 23a and a stop surface 28 formed on the body 23a. According to this embodiment, the first and second portions 24, 25 and the inclined ramp 26 are formed by the metal insert 23b. The second element 5 further comprises a return spring 29 arranged to bias the outer ring 23 to its first position. The return spring 29 has a first end bearing against an external peripheral return 31 extending radially from the outer surface of the tubular sleeve 17, and a second end bearing against the outer ring 23. The second element 5 also comprises an inner ring 32 slidably mounted in the tubular sleeve 17 along the axis of the latter 35 between a first position in which the inner ring 32 biases each ball 22 towards its unlocking position, and a second position in which the inner ring 32 allows a movement of each ball 22 to its locking position. The second element 5 comprises a return spring 33 arranged to urge the inner ring 32 to its first position. The return spring 33 has a first end bearing against an inner peripheral return 34 extending radially from the inner surface of the tubular sleeve 17, and a second end bearing against the inner ring 17. The annular projection 16 of the first element 2 is arranged to cooperate with the inner ring 32 and move the latter to its second position when the passage conduit 18 of the second element 5 accommodates the first element 2. It should be noted that the balls 22 are arranged on the one hand to immobilize the outer ring 23 in its second position when the inner ring 32 is in its first position, and on the other hand to release the outer ring 23 when the inner ring 32 is moved to its second position. The second element 5 comprises first stop means arranged to limit the displacement stroke of the outer ring 23 to its first position, and second stop means arranged to limit the displacement stroke of the inner ring 32 to its first position. . The first stop means comprise a retaining ring 35 mounted on the outer surface of the tubular sleeve 17 and arranged to cooperate with the retaining ring 27 mounted on the body 23a of the outer ring 23. The second stop means comprise two members stopper 36 each having a mounting portion 36a inserted in an orifice 37 in the inner ring 32, and a stop portion 36b protruding outside the inner ring 32 and extending through an opening 38 formed therein in the tubular sleeve 17. The abutment portion 36b of each stop member 36 is arranged to cooperate with the wall defining the corresponding opening 38 when the inner ring 32 is in its first position. The second element 5 finally comprises a mounting loop 39 mounted on the outer ring 23 and on which is intended to be mounted a halyard 46 of the sailboat to ensure a displacement of the second member 5 along the support strut 4 The mounting loop 39 has a central portion 39a and two end portions 39b each inserted into an orifice 40 formed the outer ring 23. Each orifice 40 opens into an annular groove 41 formed in the inner surface of the outer ring 23 The second element 5 comprises two retaining members 42 housed in the annular groove 41. Each retaining member 42 is arranged to retain an end portion 39b of the mounting handle 39. The winding system comprises a control of lock 43, advantageously brightly colored, designed to indicate a state of locking or unlocking of the second element 5 on the first element 2. The locking indicator 43 is arranged on the outer surface of the outer peripheral return 31. The outer ring 23 is arranged to cover the lock indicator 43 when in its second position, and to make the lock indicator visible when in its first position. The winding system comprises a traction member 44, such as a rope, cable or the like, fixed on the mounting handle 39 and arranged to move the outer ring 23 to its second position when traction is exerted on the pulling member. The traction member 44 thus makes it possible to remotely control the displacement of the locking balls 22 towards their unlocking position. The traction member 44 is advantageously intended to be disposed inside the sheath of the front sail 6.

As shown in FIG. 5, the third element 8 comprises a first fastening portion 8a intended to be fixed on the deck 9 of the sailboat, and a second fastening portion 8b on which is intended to be fixed the lower end of the support strut 4. The second fixing portion 8b is mounted free to rotate relative to the first fastening portion 8a about an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the axis of the first fastening portion 8a. The operation of the winding system will now be described hereinafter assuming that initially the inner ring 32 is in its first position, the outer ring 32 in its second position, the balls 22 are in their unlocked position, and the first and second elements 2, 5 are unlocked. In this initial situation, the state of the winding system is that illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. In this state, the locking indicator 43 is covered by the outer ring 32 and thus signals an unlocking state of the second element 5. .

When a user wishes to lock the second element 5 on the first element 2, he moves the second element 5 towards the first element 2 so that the first element penetrates inside the tubular sleeve 17 of the second element. During this penetration of the first element 2 into the second element 5, the annular projection 16 comes into contact with the inner ring 32, as shown in FIG. 9, and then moves the inner ring 32 towards its second position at against the return force exerted by the return spring 33. The penetration of the first element 2 into the second element 5 continues until the balls 22 are opposite the annular groove 15 and are pushed radially in the latter by the inclined ramp 26 of the outer ring 10 23. Such a displacement of the balls 22 to the annular groove 15 causes a release of the outer ring 23 which is then biased to its first position by the return spring 29. When the outer ring 23 abuts against the retaining ring 35, the first portion 24 of the outer ring 23 cooperates with the balls and immobilizes the latter in their position of as shown in FIG. 11. This results in a locking of the second element 5 on the first element 2. This locking is indicated by the display of the locking indicator 43, as shown in FIG. a user wishes to unlock the second element 5, it exerts traction on the traction member 44 so as to move the outer ring 23 to its second position. The balls 22 are then facing the second portion 25 of the outer ring 23 and are free to move to their unlocking position. The balls 22 are then pushed radially towards their unlocking position by the first element 2 and immobilize the outer ring 23 in its second position. This results in unlocking the second element 5 and the possibility of removing the first element 2 from the passage duct 18.

The method of hoisting the front sail 6 with the aid of the winding system according to the invention will be described in more detail below. Such a method comprises the following steps consisting in: fixing the first fastening portion of the first element 2 in the upper part of the mast 3; fixing the second fastening portion 12 of the first element 2 on the upper end of the support strut 4, - insert support strut 4 in the passage duct 18 of the second element 5, - fix the first fastening portion 8a of the third element 8 on the deck 9 of the sailboat, - fix the lower end of the the support stay 4 on the second fastening portion 8b of the third element 8, - fix the upper wedge of the front sail 6 on the second element 5 by means of the eyelets 19, - insert the support stay 5 in the sheath of the front sail 6, - mount a carabiner with load opening 45 (see Figures 12 and 13) on the halyard 46 of the sailboat, the carabiner with opening 45 under load comprising a grommet 47 for mounting at one end the halyard 46, a hook portion 48 movable between a latching position and a release position, and locking means 49 movable between a locking position of the hook portion 47 in the latching position and a release position of the portion forming a hook, - connect the carabiner with load opening 45 to the mounting handle 39 of the second element 5, - connect a rope or the like 51 to the locking means 49 of the carabiner 45 so that traction on the rope 51 causes a displacement of the locking means towards their release position, - exerting a pull on the halyard 46 so as to move the second element 5 along the support strut 4 towards the first element 2, and this up to locking the second element 5 on the first element 2 and the display of the locking indicator 43, exerting traction on the rope 51 connected to the locking means 49 of the carabiner 45 of mani to move the latter to their release position to release the mounting handle 39 and allow any further use of the halyard 46 while the forward sail 6 is hoisted, - mooring the lower end of the halyard 46 traction member 44 on the second fastening portion 8b of the third element 8, and without exerting traction on the traction member 44, and - stretch the luff of the forward sail on the second fastening portion 8b of the third element 8.

The method of slackening the front sail 6 with the aid of the winding system according to the invention comprises a step of exerting traction on the traction member 44 so as to move the outer ring 23 towards its second position and cause the balls 22 to move towards their unlocking position. This results in a gravity fall of the second element 5 and the forward sail 6 along the support strut. The fall of the front sail 6 is braked by sliding of the sheath thereof along the support strut 4. The lashing method further comprises the steps of opening the sheath of the forward sail 6 so as to disconnect the latter from the support strut 4, and disconnect the upper corner of the front sail 6 10 of the second element 5. As is obvious, the invention is not limited to the only embodiment of this winding system, described above as an example, it encompasses all the variants.

Claims (14)

REVENDICATIONS1. System for winding a front sail (6) around a support stay (4) of a mast (3) of a sailboat, comprising: a first element (2) and a second element (5) ), one of the first and second elements being adapted to be fixed on one hand on an upper part of the mast (3), and on the other hand on the upper end of the support strut (4), and being arranged to allow, in use, a rotation of the support stay about its axis, the other of the first and second members being adapted to be fixed on the upper corner of the forward sail (6) , and being intended to be displaced along the strut, the winding system being characterized in that it further comprises: locking means (22) movable between a locking position of the first and second elements (2 , 5) on one another, and an unlocking position of the first and second elements (2, 5), and remote control means Nce (44) arranged to control the movement of the locking means to their unlocking position. 2. A winding system according to claim 1, wherein the second element (5) comprises a tubular portion (17) adapted to receive the first element (2) in the locking position of the second element on the first element (2). . 3. Winding system according to claim 2, wherein the locking means comprise a plurality of balls (22) each mounted in a through bore (21) formed in the tubular portion (17) of the second element (5), each ball (22) being movable between a locking position in which it cooperates with the first member (2) so as to lock the first and second elements one on the other, and an unlocking position. 35 4. Winding system according to claim 3, wherein the second element (5) comprises an outer ring (23) slideably mounted around the tubular portion (17) of the second element substantially along the axis of the tubular portion between a first position in which the outer ring (23) blocks each ball (22) in its locking position, and a second position in which the outer ring (23) allows a movement of each ball (22) to its unlocked position. 5. A winding system according to claim 4, wherein the balls (22) in the unlocked position are arranged to immobilize the outer ring (23) in its second position, and the balls (22) in the locking position are arranged to release the outer ring (23) and allow movement of the outer ring to its first position. 6. Winding system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the outer ring (23) comprises an inclined ramp (26) formed on the inner surface of the outer ring and arranged to bias the balls (22) to their position of locking when moving the outer ring (23) to its first position. Winding system according to one of Claims 4 to 6, in which the control means comprise a traction member (44), such as a rope, cable or the like, connected to the outer ring (23) and arranged to move the outer ring to its second position when traction is exerted on the pull member (44). 8. Winding system according to one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the second member (5) comprises an inner ring (32) slidably mounted in the tubular portion (17) of the second member substantially along the axis of the tubular portion between a first position in which the inner ring (32) blocks each ball (22) in its unlocking position, and a second position in which the inner ring (32) allows a movement of each ball (22) to its position locking. 9. A winding system according to claim 8, wherein the first member (2) has an actuating portion (16) arranged to cooperate with the inner ring (32) and move the latter to that second position when the tubular portion (17) of the second element accommodates the first element (2). 10. A winding system according to one of claims 3 to 9, wherein the first element (2) comprises an annular groove (15) adapted to receive the balls (22) in the locking position of the second element on the first element. 11. Winding system according to one of claims 1 to 10, which comprises a third element (8) intended to be mounted on the deck (9) of the sailboat and on which is intended to be mounted the lower end of the strut (4), the third element being arranged to allow, in use, a rotation of the support strut about its axis. 15 12. A method of hoisting a sail (6) of a sailboat, comprising the following steps: a) providing a winding system according to one of claims 1 to 11, b) fixing the one of the first and second elements on the one hand on the upper part of a mast (3) of the sailboat, and on the other hand on the upper end of a support stay (4) of the mast, c) attach the other of the first and second members to the upper corner of the forward sail (6), d) attach a halyard (46) of the sailboat to the member on which the upper corner of the sail is fixed. before, e) pulling on the halyard (46) to move the member on which the upper wedge of the forward sail is secured along the support stay (4) towards the end upper of the support stay to lock the first and second elements one on the other, 30 f) disconnect the halyard (46) of the element on which is fixed the upper corner ur of the sail before. The hoisting method according to claim 12, wherein step d) comprises the steps of: - mounting a load-opening carabiner (45) on the halyard (46) of the sailboat, the undercut carabiner load (45) comprising a hook portion (48) movable between a latching position and a release position, and locking means (49) movable between a locking position of the hook portion in the latching position and a release position of the hook portion; - connecting a rope or the like (51) to the locking means (49) of the carabiner so that traction on the rope causes movement of the locking means towards their release position - connect the load-opening carabiner (45) to the element on which the upper corner of the forward sail is attached. 14. The hoisting method as claimed in claim 13, wherein step f) consists in exerting traction on the rope (51) connected to the locking means (49) of the carabiner so as to move the latter to their release position. to release the element on which is fixed the upper corner of the sail before.