mainsails

Largest ship sails

Mainsails are the principal sails on a sailing vessel, typically the largest sail set on the main mast.

On a sloop or cutter, the mainsail is the aft sail attached to the mast and boom; on larger ships with multiple masts, each mast may have its own mainsail.

The mainsail provides the primary driving force for the vessel and is usually the first sail raised and last lowered.

We reefed the mainsail as the wind picked up.

rigging

mast

Vessel's sail support

boomLoud deep sound
halyardSail-hoisting tackle
sheetFlat rectangular material

outhaul · downhaul · winch · pulley · rope · block · tackle · cleat · shackle · traveler

sailparts

luff

Sail toward wind

leechBlood-feeding aquatic worm
footLeg's lowest part
clewWound thread mass

tack · head · batten · roach · seam · panel · telltale · headboard

maneuvers

tacking

Angled sailing maneuver

gybingDownwind sailing maneuver
reefingReducing sail area
hoistingRaising with effort

dousing · trimming · luffing · bearing away · heading up · depowering · feathering

companion

jib

Triangular sail forward

genoaOversized forward sail
spinnakerDownwind sailing sail
staysailTriangular cloth on rigging

mizzen · foresail · topsail · headsail

vessels

sloop

One-masted fore-and-aft rigger

ketchTwo-masted fore-and-aft vessel
yawlTwo-masted sailing vessel
schoonerMulti-masted sailing craft

cutter · dinghy · catboat · cruiser · racer · clipper · brigantine · barque · dhow · junk

wind

gust

Brief wind surge

breezeLight, gentle air movement
squallBrief, violent windstorm
galeSevere sustained wind

lull · lift · header · windward · leeward · close-hauled · reaching · running

sailcloth

canvas

Heavy woven cloth

kevlarBullet-resistant synthetic fiber
mylarThin reflective polyester sheet
laminateBond thin layers together

woven · ripstop · sailmaker · stitching · reinforcement · chafe · UV-resistant · weight · draft · shape

mainsails

mast

luff

tacking

jib

sloop

gust

canvas

mainsails

Opposites

Categories

Family