NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Mainsail

A mainsail is the most important sail raised from the main (or only) mast of a sailing vessel. A mast is a pole which holds a sail of a boat, see mast (sailing). ...

On a square rigged vessel, it is the lowest and largest sail on the main mast. Square rig is a generic type of sailing vessel in which the main horizontal spars are perpendicular to the keel of the ship. ...

On a fore-and-aft rigged vessel, it is the lowest and largest and often the only sail rigged aft of the main mast, and is controlled along its foot by a spar known as the boom. A sail rigged in this position without a boom is generally called a trisail, and is used in extremely heavy weather. For the convenience store, see SPAR. Sailing ships A spar is a round timber or metal pole used on a sailing ship. ... There are several meanings of the word boom: a sound such as a sonic boom - onomatopoeia the sound of an explosion. ...

The modern bermuda rig uses a triangular mainsail as the only sail aft of the mast, closely coordinated with a jib for sailing upwind. A large overlapping jib or genoa jib is often larger than the mainsail. In downwind conditions (with the wind behind the boat) a spinnaker replaces the jib. In sailing, a bermuda rig is: A rig of mainsail or course that consists of a triangular sail set aft of the mast, with its head raised to the top of the mast, its luff running down the mast and normally attached to it for all its length, its tack... See also: Jib (television) A jib is a triangular staysail set ahead of the foremost mast of a sailing boat. ... A spinnaker is a special sail that is designed specifically for sailing downwind (with the wind behind the boat). ...

Traditional fore-and-aft rigs used a gaff to control the top of the mainsail, sometimes setting a topsail above it. In sailing, a gaff is the upper spar used to control a fore-and-aft sail set aft of the mast, such as a mainsail. ... A topsail is a sail set above another sail; on square-rigged vessels further sails may be set above topsails. ...

Categories: Sailing vessels and rigging In sailing, a course sail is the principal sail on a mast. ... A driver is a kind of sail used on some sailboats. ... In sailing, an extra is a sail that is not part of the working sail plan. ... A genoa (pronounced like the city, or as jenny) is a type of large jib-sail used on sloop-rigged craft. ... A gennaker is a downwind sail that can be described as a cross between a genoa and a spinnaker. ... See also: Jib (television) A jib is a triangular staysail set ahead of the foremost mast of a sailing boat. ... A lateen (from Latin) is a triangular sail set on a long yard mounted at an angle on the mast, and running in a fore-and-aft direction. ... A spanker is either of two kinds of sail. ... A spinnaker is a special sail that is designed specifically for sailing downwind (with the wind behind the boat). ... A staysail is a fore-and-aft rigged sail whose luff is affixed to a stay running forward (and most often but not always downwards) from a mast to the deck, the bowsprit or to another mast. ... A studding sail or studsail is a sail used to increase the sail area of a square rigged vessel in light winds. ... A spanker is either of two kinds of sail. ... On a square rigged sailing vessel, a topgallant sail is the square-rigged sail or sails immediately above the topsail or topsails. ... A topsail is a sail set above another sail; on square-rigged vessels further sails may be set above topsails. ... A small fore-and-aft sail hoisted abaft the foremast and mainmast in a storm to keep a ships bow to the wind. ... In sailing, the clew is the lower aft corner of the sail. ... The term plastics covers a range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic condensation or polymerization products that can be molded or extruded into objects or films or fibers. ... diagram showing the names of the parts of a sail The lower edge of a triangular sail is called the foot of the sail, while the upper point is known as the head. ... diagram showing the names of the parts of a sail The lower edge of a triangular sail is called the foot of the sail, while the upper point is known as the head. ... Kevlar, also known as Twaron and poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide, is a synthetic fibre that is five times stronger than steel, weight for weight. ... diagram showing the names of the parts of a sail The lower edge of a triangular sail is called the foot of the sail, while the upper point is known as the head. ... diagram showing the names of the parts of a sail The lower edge of a triangular sail is called the foot of the sail, while the upper point is known as the head. ... Tack is a term, that depending on its application has several different meanings. ... The boom is a spar usually made of aluminum or wood which provides support to the foot of the mainsail. ... Bowsprit of the Falls of Clyde, showing the dolphin striker, the use of chain for the bobstays, and three furled jibs. ... In sailing, a gaff is the upper spar used to control a fore-and-aft sail set aft of the mast, such as a mainsail. ... foremast, mainmast and mizzen mast Grand Turk The mast of a sailing ship is a tall vertical pole which supports the sails. ... foremast, mainmast and mizzen mast Grand Turk The mast of a sailing ship is a tall vertical pole which supports the sails. ... foremast, mainmast and mizzen mast Grand Turk The mast of a sailing ship is a tall vertical pole which supports the sails. ... foremast, mainmast and mizzen mast Grand Turk The mast of a sailing ship is a tall vertical pole which supports the sails. ... foremast, mainmast and mizzen mast Grand Turk The mast of a sailing ship is a tall vertical pole which supports the sails. ... The word truck is used in various different ways in different varieties of English. ... For the convenience store, see SPAR. Sailing ships A spar is a round timber or metal pole used on a sailing ship. ... A pole is a long and stiff cylinder usually made of wood, aluminium, iron, carbon fiber, or other materials. ... A yardarm (often shortened to just yard) is a horizontal spar on a mast from which square sails are rigged. ... On a sailing vessel, a backstay is a piece of standing rigging which keeps a mast from falling forewards. ... In sailing, a block is a pulley or a number of pulleys enclosed in sheaves so as to be fixed to the end of a line or to a spar or surface. ... This page is a candidate to be moved to Wiktionary. ... This article is about the sailing term. ... On a sailing vessel, a forestay is a piece of standing rigging which keeps a mast from falling backwards. ... Categories: Move to Wiktionary | Stub ... A guy is a term for a line (rope) attached to and intended to control the end of a spar on a sailboat. ... In sailing, a halyard is a line (rope) that is used to hoist (pull up) a sail or a yard to which a sail has been attached (bent on). ... Some knots: 1. ... Anatomy In anatomy, the throat is the part of the neck anterior to the vertebral column. ... One of the most dangerous things that can happen on a sailing boat, apart from falling overboard, is for someone to get caught up in the uncontrolled gybe of a sail. ... This article is about the rigging of ships, and is based on the detailed article in the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica, now in the public domain. ... Running rigging is the term for the rigging of a sailing vessel that is used for raising, lowering and controlling the sails - as opposed to the standing rigging, which supports the mast and other spars. ... On a sailing boat, the standing rigging is that collection of lines which are fixed. ... Rope is also the title of a movie by Alfred Hitchcock Coils of rope used for long-line fishing A rope is a length of fibers, twisted or braided together to improve strength, for pulling and connecting. ... In sailing, a sheet is a line attached to the clew of a sail, and is the main control used in trimming the sail. ... On a sailboat, the shrouds are pieces of standing rigging which hold the mast up from side to side. ... On a sailing ship, stay mouse refers to the bulge in a part of the standing rigging called a stay. ... Stays are the heavy ropes on sailing vessels that run from the masts to the hull. ... Anatomy In anatomy, the throat is the part of the neck anterior to the vertebral column. ... The word truck is used in various different ways in different varieties of English. ...