Talk:Sail components/Sandbox for revision development
Sail components include the features that define a sail's shape and function, plus its constituent parts from which it is manufactured.
Classifications
In sailing, sails may be classified as either triangular, which describes sails that either come to one point of suspension at the top (Bermuda rig or spinnaker) or where the sail comes to a point at the forward end (e.g. lateen rig), or quadrilateral, which includes sails that are attached to a spar at the top and have three other sides (square, lugger or gaff rigs). They also may be classified as symmetrical (square sails and symmetric spinnakers) or asymmetrical (most other sails). Typically, asymmetrical sails perform better on points of sail closer to the wind and are designed for fore-and-aft rigs than symmetrical sails, which perform best on points of sail that are further from the true wind direction.[1][2]
Triangular sails
Triangular sails have names for each of three edges and three corners. Rigs with such sails include Bermuda, cutter, lateen and vessels with mixed sail plans that include jibs and other staysails.
Edges
The foot of a sail is its bottom edge, which, on a mainsail, runs parallel to the boom.[3] The forward (leading) edge of the sail is called the luff, which, in a mainsail, is parallel to the mast.[3] The aft (back) edge of a sail is called the leech (also spelled leach), which is opposite the luff, and forms the hypotenuse of the triangle[3]
Corners
In a triangular sail, the corner where the luff and the leech connect is called the head.[4][3] The corner where the luff and foot connect is called the tack.,[3] and, on a mainsail, is located where the boom and mast connect.[3][5] The corner where the leech and the foot connect is called the clew.[3] In the case of a symmetrical spinnaker, each of the lower corners of the sail is a clew. However, when used the corner to which the spinnaker sheet is currently attached is called the clew, and the corner attached to the spinnaker pole is referred to as the tack.
Draft
Those triangular sails that are attached to both a mast along the luff and a boom along the foot have depth, known as draft, which results from the luff and foot being curved, rather than straight as they are attached to those spars. Draft creates a more efficient airfoil shape for the sail. Draft can also be induced in triangular staysails by adjustment of the sheets and the angle from which they reach the sails.[6]
Roach
The shape of a sail is seldom a perfect triangle. It is common for sailmakers to add an arc of extra material, often on the leech, outside of a direct line drawn from one corner of the sail to the other along that edge. This additional part of the sail is known as the roach; which is commonly found on most modern racing sails. The roach adds considerable additional sail area, giving the sail more "power" than it otherwise would have. Battens are often necessary to stabilize the leech of the sail, especially if there is any pronounced roach. Without battens, the roach would be damaged, possibly destroyed, by wind-induced flogging.
Quadrilateral fore-and-aft sails
Gaff, gunter, lug, junk and some sprit sails have four sides and are set fore-and-aft so that one edge is leading. Naming conventions are consistent with triangular sails, adapted for four sides and four corners.
Edges
The foot, as in a triangular sail, is the bottom edge of the sail, which runs roughly parallel to the deck. The foot is often attached, at the tack and clew, to a boom; if no boom is present, the sail is said to be "loose-footed." The head is the upper edge of the sail, and is attached at the throat and peak to a gaff, yard, or sprit. The luff is the forwardmost vertical edge of the sail, which runs along the mast.[7] The leech is the aft vertical edge of the sail.[8]
Corners
The throat is the upper forward corner of the sail. The peak is the upper aft corner. Gaff rigged sails, and certain similar rigs, employ two halyards to raise the sails: the throat halyard raises the forward, throat end of the gaff, while the peak halyard raises the aft, peak end. The tack is the lower forward corner of the sail.[9] The clew is the lower aft corner.[10]
Square sails
Many of the same names are used for parts of a quadrilateral square rigged sail.
Edges
As for a triangular sail the head refers to the topmost part. On a square sail, however, this part is an edge rather than a corner. The leech is the "side" edge of the sail. Since square sails are symmetrical, they have two leeches. Occasionally, when the ship is close-hauled, the windward edge of the sail might be referred to as the luff.[7][8] The foot is the bottom edge of the sail.
Corners
Clews are the lower two corners of a square sail. Square sails have sheets attached to their clews like triangular sails, but the sheets are used to pull the sail down to the yard below rather than to adjust the angle it makes with the wind.[10] The top corners are head cringles, where there are grommets, called cringles.[11]
Lines
Square sails also have tacks (leading forward) and sheets (leading aft), although they are not a part of the sail itself. Square Viking sails included a stiffening bar called a beitass. Clew lines are ropes attached to the clews, and clewgarnets or cluegarnets are the tackles attached to clew lines. These lines and tackles are used to ‘clew up’ the '‘courses’' of a square sail (i.e. to pull the clews up onto the upper yard or the mast in preparation for furling the sail).[10] Buntlines are ropes attached along the foot of a square sail and led through 'lizards' up the front of the sail to assist with clewing up the sail. Slablines are the equivalent of buntlines but run up the back of the sail.
See also
References
Citations
- ^ Textor, Ken (1995). The New Book of Sail Trim. Sheridan House, Inc. p. 228. ISBN 0924486813.
- ^ Mclaughlan, Ian (2014). The Sloop of War: 1650-1763. Seaforth Publishing. p. 288. ISBN 9781848321878.
- ^ a b c d e f g SAIL Editors. "Know How: Sailing 101". Sail Magazine. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
{{cite web}}:|author1=has generic name (help) - ^ Jobson 2008, p. 208.
- ^ "Sailing Quick Reference Guide" (PDF). Wayzata Yacht Club. Wayzata Yacht Club. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
- ^ Jinks, Simon. "Adjusting Sail Draft". Royal Yachting Association. Royal Yachting Association. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
- ^ a b King, Hattendorf & Estes 2000, p. 283.
- ^ a b King, Hattendorf & Estes 2000, p. 271.
- ^ King, Hattendorf & Estes 2000, p. 429.
- ^ a b c King, Hattendorf & Estes 2000, p. 146.
- ^ Knight, Austin N. (1921). Modern Seamanship (8 ed.). New York: D. van Nostrand Company. p. 831.
Sources
- Jobson, Gary (2008). Sailing Fundamentals (Revised ed.). New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 224. ISBN 1439136785.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - King, Dean; Hattendorf, John B.; Estes, J W. (2000). A sea of words: a lexicon and companion for Patrick O'Brian's seafaring tales (3 ed.). New York: Henry Holt. p. 518. ISBN 978-0-8050-6615-9.
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Further reading
- MacKenzie, Mike (2005–2012). "Home page". Sea Talk Nautical Dictionary: The Dictionary of English Nautical Language. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
- Rousmaniere, John (June 1998). The Illustrated Dictionary of Boating Terms: 2000 Essential Terms for Sailors and Powerboaters (Paperback). W. W. Norton & Company. p. 174. ISBN 0393339181. ISBN 978-0393339185
- Smyth, W. H.; Belcher, E. (1867). The sailor's word-book: An alphabetical digest of nautical terms, including some more especially military and scientific ... as well as archaisms of early voyagers, etc. London: Blackie and Son.
- A naval encyclopædia: comprising a dictionary of nautical words and phrases; biographical notices, and records of naval officers; special articles of naval art and science. Philadelphia: L.R. Hamesrsly & Co. 1881. Retrieved January 23, 2014. at Internet Archive