Mainsail

A mainsail is the most important sail raised from the main (or only) mast of a sailing vessel.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On a square rigged vessel, it is the lowest and largest sail on the main mast.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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.

Related Topics:
Spar - Boom - Trisail

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 is often larger than the mainsail. In downwind conditions (with the wind behind the boat) a spinnaker replaces the jib.

Related Topics:
Bermuda rig - Jib - Genoa - Spinnaker

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Traditional fore-and-aft rigs used a gaff to control the top of the mainsail, sometimes setting a topsail above it.

Related Topics:
Gaff - Topsail

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~