Depth and location of curvature of sail is controlled by which group of lines?

• A. Vang, Traveler, Mainsheet, Downhaul
• B. Outhaul, Vang, Mainsheet, Backstay
• C. Traveler, Mainsheet, Downhaul, Backstay
• D. Outhaul, Downhaul, Backstay, Main halyard

Answer: (D)

Depth and where the sail carries its maximum fullness come from how you tension the sail along its edges and how you bend the mast. The outhaul adjusts the foot tension, which directly changes the lower curvature of the mainsail—tightening flattens the bottom and reduces depth, loosening increases draft in the lower part. The downhaul (Cunningham) tightens the luff, tightening the front edge and upper portion of the sail, which reduces overall depth and moves the big draft forward along the sail. The backstay changes mast bend; more tension bends the mast backward, flattening the sail and generally shifting the draft toward the luff. The main halyard tightens the head, increasing luff tension and influencing the sail’s shape at the top, which helps position the draft along the sail. Together, these lines control both how deep the sail is and where that depth sits.