mainsheet

Boom angle adjuster

The mainsheet is a rope or line that controls the angle of a boat's mainsail relative to the wind.

By adjusting the mainsheet, a sailor trims the sail—pulling it in for upwind sailing or letting it out when running downwind.

Ease the mainsheet means to let it out; trim the mainsheet means to pull it in.

control

trim

Remove unwanted edges

tensionStretched or strained state
easeLack of strain
releaseTo let go

haul · cleat · block · winch · jammer · traveler · adjust · tighten · slacken · grip

rigging

boom

Loud deep sound

tackleGear or takedown
blockSolid mass, or impede
bridleEquine control harness

swivel · shackle · thimble · splice · rope · line · cordage · braid · spectra · chafe

sailing

tack

Sharp-headed fastener

jibeAgree or correspond
pointingDirecting attention somewhere
reachingExtending toward something

running · heeling · luffing · bearing · heading · close-hauled · downwind · upwind · weather helm · regatta

Categories

sailingsailboat, sailing, sails, sailboats, catamaran
sailboat partsmast, sail, boom, hull, keel
sailing gearsail, jib, spinnaker, genoa, mast
nautical lineshalyard, bowline, dock line, mooring line, hawser
riggingbackstay, backstays, shackle, pulley, blocks
sailing riggingmast, boom, sail, shroud, shrouds

Opposites

sail control function

mainsheetjibsheet

Headsail control rope

halyard · topping lift · downhaul · cunningham · outhaul

Family

main, sheet, sheets, sheeting, sheeted, mainsail, mainmast, sheetlike

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G