When I am sailing and want to store the jib (genoa) , all I do
is release the jib halyard, pull on the downhaul line and this pulls the jib (genoa)
down into a ball on the foredeck.
The following is a "crude" drawning of how the system works.
I have released the Jib (Genoa) halyard, but have not released the Jib (Genoa) sheets. I then pull on the downhaul line from the cockpit and the Jib (Genoa) is pulled down the forestay into a ball on the foredeck (inside the bow pulpit. Now the Jib (Genoa) is stored in a ball on the foredeck and will not be caught by the wind. When you release the halyard, the main ring slides down the forestay pulling the downhaul down with it. This make it easier to bring the Jib (Genoa) down when anchoring or at the dock. This way you do not have to go onto the foredeck until you are anchored or tied up to the dock.
