Lines
As the old saying goes, there are no ropes on a boat…but there are a LOT of lines that control the shape of the sails, and as a consequence, how fast the boat goes.
Knowing these lines, how they can be used, and where they are on the boat will make you an effective crew member:
- Main halyard – used to raise the mainsail
- Cunningham – controls position of draft in mainsail
- Outhaul – controls the amount of draft in the mainsail
- Mainsheet – controls the angle of the mainsail to the wind
- Traveler
- Backstay
- Vang
- Port jib halyard
- Spin jib halyard
- Jib sheet (2)
- Barberhauler (1-2)
- Spinnaker halyard
- Downhaul
- Topping lift
- Tweakers (2), sometimes called twings
- Spin sheet/guy (2)
Sailboat Racing Adventures 
Leave a comment