To set a balance-lug sail, the yard is first hoisted to the requisite height with the halyard, and then the tack is hauled down until the sail stands perfectly taut and flat. As considerable force has to be exerted in order to get the tack down, it is usual to have a tack purchase; when the ropes and sail stretch in a breeze, it is by a pull on the tack purchase, and not on the halyards, that the slack is taken in and the sail is made to stand flat again. In the author's boat a luff tackle is employed for the tack; the upper block hooking on to a thimble fastened to the boom, while the lower block hooks on to an eye in the mast. A downhaul is fitted to the yard.
The sheet is thus arranged: One end of it is fastened to one quarter of the boat; the other end leads through a block on the boom and then through another block fastened to the other quarter.
The mast is supported by a wire stay on either side, and being stepped in what is known as a tabernacle, works on a pivot in its heel, so that it can be quickly lowered when a bridge has to be passed under. A rope is spliced into an eye at the lower end of the forestay, passes through a block in the bows, and leads to a cleat aft; when this rope is cast off, the mast comes down without difficulty.
If a balance-lug is properly cut and properly set, it stands flatter than any of the sails hitherto described. The position of the tack, made fast as it is at some distance abaft the fore end of the
