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| CATEGORIES ABOUT MAINSAIL | |
| sailing vessels and rigging | |
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A mainsail is the most important sail raised from the main (or only) Mast of a sailing vessel. On a Square Rig ged 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. 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. Traditional fore-and-aft rigs used a Gaff to control the top of the mainsail, sometimes setting a Topsail above it. |
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