| In this learn to sail article we're going to discuss the | | | | a boat. The bolt rope slides up into a track on the mast |
| mainsail and some thingys that are attached to it and | | | | holding the mainsail securely in place. With other |
| the function of those thingys. | | | | mainsail luffs, there are clips called hanks which are |
| The mainsail is literally "the Main Sail". Every sailboat | | | | sewn into the leading edge approximately 30 cm apart. |
| has a mainsail and it's usually a triangular shape. It's the | | | | The hanks then slide into a track as the mainsail is |
| one that is hoisted (pulled) up the mast and extends | | | | hoisted. |
| aft (towards the stern (rear) of the boat). The foot | | | | The line that hoists the mainsail up to the top of the |
| (bottom) of the mainsail is usually attached to the | | | | mast is called a halyard. It is held to the top (head) of |
| boom. The boom is a rigid horizontal spar that attaches | | | | the mainsail by a D-ring, goes over a sheave (pulley) at |
| to a position near the base of the mast and extends | | | | the top of the mast and then down the mast to either |
| backwards towards the aft of the sailboat. The front | | | | a winch on the mast or through a few blocks and |
| bottom connection part of the mainsail is called the | | | | back to a winch near the cockpit. |
| tack. It's a very strong sewn in eye hole. Similarly the | | | | Once we have the sail up. We'll want to begin |
| back bottom connection eye hole in the mainsail is | | | | controlling the sail and adjusting to the wind. This is the |
| called the clew. The foot of the sail usually slides into a | | | | most fun part of your learn to sail desire. To control |
| track along the boom and is held taught along the | | | | how far the boom and thus mainsail swings out, we |
| boom by a line called the out haul attached to the clew | | | | use the main sheet. Just remember that on a sailboat, |
| by a D-ring. In some cases the foot of the mainsail is | | | | sheets are lines which are ropes. The main sheet |
| only attached to the tack and the clew. The | | | | attaches to a block (pulley) near the back of the boom |
| attachment fitting which attaches the boom to the | | | | and down to the to center of the sailboat, usually in the |
| mast is called a gooseneck which allows the boom | | | | cockpit. When we pull on the mainsheet the boom is |
| and thus the mainsail to swing from side to side. The | | | | pulled down and swings towards the center of the |
| leech (trailing edge) of the sail holds up the back of | | | | boat. When we let out the mainsheet the mainsail can |
| boom. On larger boats (20ft plus), when the mainsail is | | | | swing out and is also allowed to rise up. Pulling in the |
| not hoisted there is a line from the top of the mast to | | | | mainsheet is called "tightening up the mainsheet" and |
| the back of the boom called the boom topping lift. The | | | | letting out the mainsheet is called "easing the |
| boom topping lift holds up the back of the boom. | | | | mainsheet" or "letting out the mainsheet". Notice that |
| However, as soon as the mainsail is hoisted, the boom | | | | we always refer to the line by name that we are |
| topping lift line should become slack allowing the sail | | | | adjusting so that there is no ambiguity. |
| tension to take over this roll. | | | | There are a few other controlling lines of the mainsail |
| The leading edge of the mainsail is called the luff. It | | | | which we'll discuss in the next article. Even though you |
| attaches to the mast in a few different ways. | | | | probably feel like you're starting out with a test of |
| Sometimes there is a rope sewn into the luff. This | | | | some foreign language, understanding the names and |
| rope is called a bolt rope and is one of the few ropes | | | | functions of the mainsail is all part of the learn to sail |
| that exist on a boat. Another is called a bell rope | | | | routine. |
| although some sailors will claim there are no ropes on | | | | |