Winch

A winch for a sailboat comprises a support (102) for mounting the winch with respect to a sailboat, a winch drum (202) rotatable with respect to the support, a ring gear (108) fixed with respect to the winch drum, a main drive gear (G2) meshing with the ring gear for driving rotation of the winch drum, a manual drive spindle (300) and a motor gear shaft (114). The winch is capable of manual operation for forward winding of the winch drum in a first gearing ratio and in a second gearing ratio, the first and second gearing ratios being selected depending on the direction of rotation of the manual drive spindle (300). A first gear train provides the first gearing ratio, the first gear train having a first unidirectional drive means (118, 120, R2) operable to drive the main drive gear when the first unidirectional drive means is rotated in a forward direction and operable to freewheel when the first unidirectional drive means is rotated in a reverse direction. A second gear train provides the second gearing ratio, the second gear train having a second unidirectional drive means (126, 128, R1) operable to drive the main drive gear when the second unidirectional drive means is rotated in a reverse direction and operable to freewheel when the second unidirectional drive means is rotated in a forwards direction. A third unidirectional drive means (122, 124, R3) is linked to the motor gear shaft, wherein the winch is capable of motorised operation in which the winch drum is operatively linked to the motor gear shaft via the third unidirectional drive means and via at least part of the first or second gear train. Rotation of the third unidirectional drive means by the motor gear shaft (114) in one direction drives the main drive gear (G2) and causes forward winding of the winch drum (202). Rotation of the unidirectional drive means (122, 124, R3) by the motor gear shaft in the opposite direction allows reverse winding of the winch drum (202).