Winch

A self-tailing winch (200) for a sailboat comprises a support (206) for mounting the winch with respect to a sailboat, a winch drum (202) rotatable with respect to the support (206) about a rotational axis and a self-tailing arrangement (220) disposed axially adjacent the winch drum. The self-tailing arrangement (220) comprises a rope guide channel (248) extending circumferentially around the self-tailing assembly, the rope guide channel being defined by upper (244) and lower (246) rope guide rings, the upper and lower rope guide rings being rotatable with the drum (202) and adapted to grip rope in the rope guide channel. A feeder arm (242) guides rope between the drum and the rope guide channel, the feeder arm being fixed with respect to the support. A retainer guide (260) guides rope between the rope guide channel and an unloaded end of the rope. The drum is rotatable with respect to the retainer guide and the retainer guide is spring mounted to allow movement of the retainer guide in a direction substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the winch drum. The retainer guide has a retainer lip (262) extending partially circumferentially around the self-tailing assembly to at least partially enclose a portion of the rope guide channel (248). The retainer guide further defines at least one side of an opening (272) adjacent the retainer lip, the opening being sized to conduct rope through the opening during reverse winding of the winch, the rope thereby being retained in the rope guide channel (248) by the retainer lip (262).