Winch handle for Sailboat Winches

A winch handle (10, 20) locking system comprising a winch handle (10, 20) with a bit (11, 22) adapted to mate with a socket (11, 12) in a winch (10). The bit (11, 22) employs a first magnetic member, a magnet guide (23), interacting with a second magnetic element, a permanent magnet (12), inside the socket (11, 12). The magnet is fixed to the winch (10) at a position allowing the winch handle bit (22) to mate with the socket (11, 12) and securing a desired attraction force between the winch (10) and the winch handle (10, 20). Furthermore, a magnetic sensor (25) is placed at the magnet guide (23) in the bit (11, 22) and sends a trigger signal to electronics in the winch handle (10, 20) when the bit (11, 22) is fully mated into the socket (11, 12). An NFC antenna (24) in the bit (11, 22) is tuned to pick up a unique signal from an NFC tag (14) inside the socket (11, 12) of the winch (10) to allow the electronics in the winch handle (10, 20) to uniquely control a motor connected to the winch (10).