Course (sail)
In sailing, a course sail is the principal sail on a mast.
This term is used predominantly on square rigged vessels, referring to the largest and lowest sail on each mast (mizzen-course, main-course and fore-course). Larger fore-and-aft rigged vessels may possibly use the term (for the lowest sail rigged aft of each mast), but are more likely to refer simply to a mainsail, foresail, etc. A modern yacht, whether sloop, cutter, ketch or yawl, would not be described as having a course.
| Sails, Spars and Rigging | |
|---|---|
| Sails | |
| Course | Driver | Extra | Genoa | Gennaker | Jib | Lateen | Mainsail | Spanker | Spinnaker | Staysail | Studding | Tallboy | Topgallant | Topsail | Trysail | |
| Sail Anatomy | |
| Clew | Dacron | Foot | Head | Kevlar | Leech | Luff | Tack | |
| Spars | |
| Boom | Bowsprit | Gaff | Mast | Mast (Fore) | Mast (Jigger) | Mast (Main) | Mast (Mizzen) | Masthead Truck | Spar | Spinnaker Pole | Yard | |
| Rigging Components | |
| Backstay | Block | Cleat | Cunningham | Forestay | Gooseneck | Guy | Halyard | Knot | Peak | Preventer | Rigging | Rigging (Running) | Rigging (Standing) | Rope | Sheet | Shroud | Stays | Throat | Truck
| |
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