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Mainsail

Boating Main mastMainsheet

 


A mainsail is the most important sail raised from the main (or only) mast of a sailing vessel.
On a square rigged vessel, it is the lowest and largest sail on the main mast.

mainsail
sail trim
The mainsheet traveler is a device that allows for changing the position where the mainsheet tackle connects to the boat.

mainsail
The main sail that is suspended from the main mast.
main sheet
The line used to control the mainsail.

Mainsail - The lowest square sail on the mainmast.
Mainsheet - The rope or tackle which holds the aft clew of the main sail, or main boom.

mainsail, main
Pronounced "main-sul". The sail set behind the mainmast. The mainsheet is its sheet.
make ...

Mainsail: The most important sail on all boats. This sail sits behind the mast. Most are triangular but other shapes do exist.
Boom: At the bottom of the mainsail, the part that controls the sail.

MAINSAIL OR MAINS'L-The large sail set abaft the mast.
MAINSHEET-The line that controls the mainsail.
MASTHEAD-Top of the mast.

Mainsail
On a Classic Moth, the only sail. On boats with multiple sailes it is usually the largest sail. (Except for the spinnaker.)
Mainsheet ...

MAINSAIL: The sail set on the mainmast.-the lowest square sail on the mainmast.
MARCONI RIG : The most common type of sail used today, a triangle-shaped mainsail defined by the mast and one horizontal beam perpendicular to the mast called a boom.

MAINSAIL The sail set behind the main mast, the luff of which is supported by the mast.
MAINSHEET The line used to pull the mainsail in or let it out.

mainsail The sail hoisted on the "after" side of the mainmast; also called "mains'l".
make fast Attaching a line; action of attaching a rope.
manila A natural, fiber rope.

Mainsails: The principal sail on a vessel. On a man-of-war, the mainsail is the lowest and largest sail on the mainmast.

The mainsail is raised first for various reasons. It acts like a weather vane and keeps the boat headed into the wind.

M
top
Mainsail- The sail that is attached to main, or largest, mast of a boat.
Mainsheet- Line attached to the main boom that controls the mainsail.

As the mainsail jibes over, ease the boom out, to it's desired reach or run position. Also, move your body to the new windward side, still facing forward and changing the tiller and mainsheet to the other hand from behind your back.

If the mainsail is of the loose-footed variety it should be fitted with a tack tricing tackle and a main tack purchase. The last named is handy for bowsing down the luff of the sail "bar taut" for racing.

Loose footed:
A mainsail that is not connected to a boom along its foot.
Marconi rig:
Another term for bermudan rig. Refers to the similarity of the tall mast to a radio aerial.

BY THE LEE: Steering with the wind aft and on the same side of the stern as the mainsail, thus placing the boat in danger of gybing.
C
CABIN: A compartment for passengers or crew.

Battens Flexible strips of wood or plastic, most commonly used in the mainsail to support the aft portion, or roach, so that it will not curl.
Bilge A rounding of the hull along the length of the boat where the bottom meets the side.

Mainsail - The principal sail that is set on the main mast.
Mainsheet - The line that controls the angle of the mainsail in its relation to the wind.
Make Fast - To attach a line to something so that it will not move.

sail repair kit and palm sail repair kit Tools and material used for emergency repairs to sails including: sewing twine, needles, a palm, and beeswax sail slide A small metal or plastic fitting often used on the forward and lower edges of a mainsail ...

sail slide: a small metal or plastic fitting often used on the forward and lower edges of a mainsail or mizzen to attach it to a track along the appropriate mast and boom. A slide may also be used on the head, luff or foot of a gaff sail.

cutter - single-masted sailboat with a mainsail and two headsails.
D
deep sixed - articles tossed overboard.
desert kelp - a floating tumbleweed.
dinghy - open or partially decked vessel without a cabin.
doldrums - area of little wind.

Boom: the horizontal spar that is attached to the mast at a right angle to support the bottom of the mainsail.
Boom Vang: an adjustable rod or tackle that prevents the boom from lifting or dropping on deck.
Bow: the front of the boat.

Backwind: To loosen the trim of a mainsail so that it flaps - reduces heeling
Bahamas: An archipelago and country in the Caribbean, among the favorite destinations for cruisers especially from the US and Canada ...

The basic names for the sails are: the mainsail, which attaches to the mast and the jib, which attaches to the jibstay.
Satellite Navigation ...

For use in a storm, without having to remove the mainsail. Also, useful for stability while sailing downwind.
Dodger, splash cloths, and bimini.

CRUTCH - A wooden support for the main-boom when the mainsail is furled.
CUDDY - A small shelter cabin in a boat.
CUNNINGHAM - A mainsail control device, using a line to pull down the mainsail a short distance from the luff to the tack.

The sail area of the mainsail was seen as not as effective as the sail area of the headsails, so mainsails started to shrink to what we eventually called the 'IOR ribbon main.' Mast location moved aft and foretriangles became huge.

The mainsail was tied with extra line from the boom vang.
#5. Stuck floater switch on the bilge pump. The pump would thus not go off. This is both a drain on the battery and may burn out the pump.
#6.

SLOOP, a type of small sailing-vessels which have one mast rigged "fore and aft," carrying a mainsail, gaff-topsail, jib and fore staysail.

Wing and wing-The situation of a fore-and-aft vessel when she is going dead before the wind, with her forsail hauled over on one side and her mainsail on the other.

Mainsail: - The sail set on the mainmast.-the lowest square sail on the mainmast.
Marlinspike - A tool for opening the strands of a rope while splicing
Mast: - a large wooden pole used to hold up the sails ...

Main sheet: Line that controls the position of the mainsail.
Make Fast: To attach a line to something so that it will not move.
Make Way: Moving through the water.
Marconi rig: Lightweight mast supported by stays and shrouds.

Most are single-mast 'Bermudan sloop' rigged vessels, with a single fore-sail (of the 'jib' or 'Genoa') type and a single mainsail. Spinnaker sails, with huge areas, are often supplied for lightwind use.

Luff: The forward edge of a mainsail or jib and the windward edge of a spinnaker.
Luff, to: Bubbling or flapping of a sail when it is not trimmed enough or is being backwinded by another sail or when the course sailed is too close to the wind.

slot - The opening between the jib and the mainsail. Wind passing through this opening increases the pressure difference across the sides of the mainsail, helping to move the boat forward.

A block and tackle system used to control tension on the luff of the mainsail.
Cunningham hole
Reinforced grommet in the luff of the mainsail a few inches above the tack through which the cunningham is rigged.

Mainsheet - The line that controls the angle of the mainsail in its relation to the wind.
Marconi Rig - The most common type of sail used today, a triangle-shaped mainsail defined by the mast and one horizontal boom perpendicular to the mast.

The side opposite to that on which the mainsail is carried or, in the case of a square-rigged vessel, the side opposite to that on which the largest fore-and-aft sail is carried.
Code of signals Flag A ...

Clew: The lower corner of a mainsail, jib or genoa and either lower corner of a spinnaker attached to the sheet.
Cockpit: A recessed area in the deck in which the crew works.

Careful control of the boom and mainsail is required when jibing in order to prevent a violent motion of the boom when it switches sides. Jibing without controlling the boom properly is known as an accidental jibe.

In sail measurements, the longest reach of the mainsail along the mast.
Pier
A wooden structure (although it may be built from other materials) built over the water, used by boats for landing.

clew outhaul
a length of cord or wire attached to the outer end of the mainsail and the after end of the boom, it is used for tensioning the foot of the sail
Search results: Click on the word(s) below to view the definition.

Genoa - a large foresail that overlaps the mainsail
Gimball - a device that suspends a compass so that it remains level
Gooseneck - a device that connects the boom to the mast ...

To reduce the sail area of a yacht's mainsail. The process of making a reef is commonly termed 'putting a tuck in'. The reverse procedure is 'shaking out a reef'.
S
top ...

wing and wing A method of running before the wind with two sails set. Usually the mainsail on one side and a headsail on the other, or one headsail on each side.
working sails The sails used on a particular sailboat in normal weather conditions.

Any sailboat with a four-sided mainsail.
Gear
The general name for all nonpermanent nautical equipment, including crew's clothing and personal effects.

Mainsheet: Line that controls the position of the mainsail.
Mark (buoy): An object the sailing instructions require a boat to pass on a specified side.

By the lee When running under sail, if the wind blows over the same side as the mainsail.
By the stern Greater draft aft than forward.
CABLE 1) 1/10 Nautical mile, 2) anchor chain, 3) stainless steel wire.

a large foresail that overlaps the mainsail
Gimball
a device that suspends a compass so that it remains level ...

(b) For the purposes of this Rule the windward side shall be deemed to be the side opposite that on which the mainsail is carried or, in the case of a square-rigged vessel, the side opposite to that on which the largest fore-and-aft sail is carried.

Line that controls the position of the mainsail.
MAKING WAY
Vessel under way and moving through the water, using power or sail ...

The rig should include a mainsail that can be reefed for storms, and a sea-anchor. The sailing rig also allows self-rescue if the engine quits and one grows tired, as can happen if one is swept out to sea.

mainsail -- the main sail of the sail boat set off the mast and main boom
marlinespike -- a pointed metal tool for separating the strands of a rope in splicing
meat hook -- slang expression for a large fishing hook
midships -- the middle of the boat ...

TOPPING LIFT An adjustable line from the mast to support the aft end of the boom and to support in when the mainsail is lowered or is being reefed. TRANSOM The member forming the aft (stern) end of the boat.

See also: Boat, Sail, Sailing, Hull, Mast