Looking around I have seen merlins on the beach with their jibs very neatly rolled aoround themselves, my question is how is this done, as I doubt they are fitted with a rope operated furling system like on large cruising yachts.

You, errr, roll it round!!

You need a bit on tension on, but it really is that simple. Just don't roll it too tightly.

So I roll it but the sheets are not wrapped around the outside, so I guess swivel fittings are in use then!

no swivel fittings, just detach the sheets and roll.

Or keep on passing them (sheets) around and around and around and round and around and........
Or just detatch them like wot Chris says...
then retie them when rolled so it don't come undone again...

Or get a bit of elastic with a loop at one end and a toggle at the other and put it round when it is rolled.

See the thread below and chairman GGGGGGGG's translation of the Deepy/Dempsey method.

We've tried lots of ways of attaching the jib and this is excellent - by far the best.  You'll want tapered sheets which are really rather easy to do - just get some sailmakers needles and some whipping twine and a couple of metres of 6mm Excel Pro (Just tell the chandlery that you want to make tapered sheets).

We tried it for the first time 2 weeks ago in a FORCE 6 and it was great.  (Stu, if you're reading this, you should try it too lol!)

Martin
We used to take the sheets off, roll the jib and secure with a knotted handkerchief.
How are you doing with 3190? Is she still called Finlandia?
She was one of the prettiest boats that the master builder from Exmouth ever built and she might still be quite competitive inland, particularly with a modern rig.
Did you receive the photos OK?
Tony

Tony 
Thanks for the pictures safely recieved, of course she is still called Finlandia. Why did you chose that as a name?
She is with Jim Woodward at the moment (due back soon) having the post winter re varnish applied to decks. 
Modern rig? I wondered about that but thought that might be sacrilage...... loads of mods would be needed to deck step her. 
It is only 3 years till we hit the vintage circuit, I might have learnt how to sail her halfway decently by then.

I was in a Sibelius phase and I had just had a marvellous experience in Finland.
You are probably right,putting a modern rig in could be considered sacriligious but it might make her very competitive in certain conditions.

same as Gangsta Paradise then?

What conditions was she fast in, I can make her go quite well in no wind and am getting there in a blow in between I seem to struggle.

What design is Gangsta Paradise?

Gangsta is one of the most seminal of Merlins.  Commissioned by the man, PE King, she's a Kevin Driver Let it Ride.  Won the champs more than once I  think i'm correct in saying.  I guess the similarity is the name of the hit tune of the time.  I'm more of a Swan of Tuonela man myself...

Where did Gangsta Paradise come into this debate?

......as Väinämöinen departs in his copper boat....was that the bit?

Martin - Our best results were in the light stuff when she was quicker than many, particularly to windward.