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Contrary to popular assumption, a 'sheet' on a sailing vessel is not an area of canvas but a rope. Sheets are those ropes that control the trim of the sails, which is to say the angle they are set at. (To maximise performance, sails are set at different angles depending on the angle of the wind relative to the direction you want to go in.) The 'main sheet' is therefore the rope that controls the angle of the main sail. On the most common type of leisure yacht, there is one mast, normally rigged with two triangular sails: one that is attached at the bows of the boat, and one that is set aft of the mast, with its bottom edge fixed to a swinging wood or metal boom. It is this second type of sail that is referred to as the 'main' (even though the sail at the front often has the larger area on a modern yacht). On such a yacht, the 'main sheet' is the rope that controls how far the boom is allowed to swing away from the central fore-and-aft line of the boat, and as such it is a major component in determining how fast and comfortable your ride is. Though the analogy is far from perfect, it bears some comparison to a car's accelerator pedal.
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What the definition of the word sail?
Sail is a sheet of material used to propel a boat. - Or to move on the water in such a boat.
What is the jib sheet on a boat?
it is the small sail on the boat. Wrong. On a boat a sheet is a rope, not a sail. The jib (or foresail) is switched from starboard to port (and vice versa) depending on the wind direction and during tacking. The rope which does this is a jibsheet (Or foresheet).
What does a mainsail do?
A main sail is literally what it says. the main sail used on a boat. It catches wind and so proppells the boat along
What is the big sail on a boat called?
It's usually called the Mainsail, or as sailors pronounce it, the "mains'l". It is sometimes called the "sheet" too, though that is more generic. +++ The "sheet" is the line that controls the sail's angle across the boat.
Is Sail common noun?
Yes, the noun 'sail' is a common noun, a general word for a sheet of fabric attached to a mast or pole used to catch the wind to propel a a boat or ship over the water or ice; a general word for something resembling such a sheet of fabric in form or function; a general word for a trip taken on a boat or a ship; a word for any sail of any kind.A common noun is capitalized only when it's the first word in a sentence.The word 'sail' is also a verb: sail, sails, sailing, sailed.
In naval language what are halyards?
In nautical terms, the "halyards" are used to "haul the yards" of sail (up or down). The mainsail halyard is called the "main sheet", the jib sail halyard is called the "jib sheet" & the mizzen sail halyard is called the "mizzen sheet".
What are yatch sails called?
Sheets.Correction:Each sail has its own name based on its position on the boat and upon its usage. A "sheet" is a woven line used to control a sail, typically by controlling the clew, and is not a sail at all.
What is a boat with a sail called?
A sail boat or yacht.
What boat has a sail?
A sail boat Also motorsailers and rafts
Did Christopher Columbus sail by boat?
Yes he did sail by boat
Can you swim or sail a boat?
sail
What is a Sumerian sail?
a sail boat
