The Dutchman Mainsail Flaking System

The Dutchman Mainsail Flaking System uses vertical control lines laced through fairleads in the sail to automatically flake the sail. The sail slides up and down on the lines like a window shade. As the sail is dropped, the lines guide the main down to alternate sides of the boom. One person can lower and flake the mainsail in under 20 seconds. The Dutchman system works with conventional or full-batten sails. There is no effect on sail shape. The mainsail can’t get caught on the Dutchman lines as it is raised or lowered. 

Tri-Radial Spectra cruising main with a Dutchman system on a Marten 49.

Sail covers have to be specially made with slits and zippers to fit around the vertical Dutchman lines, which makes a cover a little more time consuming to put on and the slits and zippers ad to the cost of the cover.

A close up of the carefully placed zipper slits in a mainsail cover.