Manually-controlled winding device of a winding element, such as a tarpaulin.

The device (1) has a manual control unit for actuating a pawl (11) in a release position such that the pawl releases a tooth (10) from a toothed wheel (9). A cam (13) is actuated by the manual control unit, and an actuating element (4) engages with a lever (5) to release the tooth from the toothed wheel in a blocking position (P3) of the actuating element. The manual control unit releases the tooth and the pawl from the toothed wheel in the blocking position of the actuating element to release a rotating drive axle (2). A fixed support (3) comprises two flanges.