SAIL. 429 telow, the ropes at each lower rorner are called sheets; but square sails which han<i from a yard and have no yard below them have taeks lead- ing forward from their lower corners and sheets leading aft. When the sail is set at an angle
SAIL. FOBE-AND-APT SAIL — UAINBAIL. ■with the keel, one tack is hauled forward and one sheet is hauled aft. Tj'pical sails on a larger scale than in the diagram are shown in the accompanying figures, and the letters indicate parts of the sail and the ropes called "gear" attached to it: B, buntline; 6, bowline; C, clew; c, clewline; D, downhaul; (called 'cloths') of canvas running up and down the sail. These are lapped about an inch and a half and both edges si-wn with an overhand stitch. Around the edges of the sails are adili tional canvas strips called tabling, clew patches, etc.; and across it are strainbaiuls. buntline cloths, reef-bands, etc. The e<lges of the sail arc strongly sewed to the 'roping.' which goes en- tirely round and ndils greatly to the strength as well as serving to attach llie gear to the sail. As apjilied to ships, sails are of two types, 'square' and ■forean<laft.' S(|u«re sails are bent to yards which pivot about their middle. Kore- aml-aft .sails pivot at the forward edge (or near it in the ease of lug-sails), and are bent to galfs, masts, or lugs, or are hoisted on stays. A vessel can carry more canvas if square-rigged, hut the sails are heavier and less easy to handle, and a fore-and-aft rigged vessel can usually lie nearer the wind in sailing. S(iuare-riggcd vessels, in addition to their square sails, iiave some fore- and-aft sails, as the jibs, staysails, trysails, and spanker. See Snip. The lower sails of a square-rigged vessel are called the courses; they consist of the foresail and mainsail (and, in some shii>s, the niizzen or cross-jack). The sails above these are the top- sails — fore, nuiin, and mizzen. Above the top- sails are the fore, main, and mizzen topgallant sails ; and above these again the fore. main, and mizzen royals. In some very lofty merchant ships there are skysails above the royals. In recent years the merchant |)ractice has been to cut the topsail in two parts, called the upper and lower topsails. This plan saves reefing close down — instead of reefing, the upper topsail is E, head-earing; F. foot of sail; g. bunt-glut for bunt-whip; H, halliards; h, head of sail ; L, luff of sail; I, leech of sail; l', leechline; n, nock or throat of sail; p, peak of sail; R, reef-tackle; r, reef-band of sail, carrjMng reef-points; S, sheet; T, tack, the rope which secures the corner of the sail (also called the tack) t. to the deck or mast. Canvas sails are made up of narrow strips TOPSAIL, AFTER BIDE. furled. Moreover, the sails are of less unman- ageable dimensions for handling with small crews. Sails are hoisted with ropes called halliards; hauled out flat with sheets or outhauls (on booms and gaffs) ; pulled up to the yard for furling by means of clewlines (at lower cor- ners), buntlines (made fast at foot), leeehlines (at side), and bunt- whip (middle) ; and pulled
