Which line is used to raise and lower sails?

• A. Sheets
• B. Cunningham
• C. Halyard
• D. Outhaul

Answer: (C)

Halyard is the line used to raise and lower sails. It runs up the mast to the head of each sail, so you haul on it to hoist and ease it to lower. The mainsail has a main halyard and a jib has a jib halyard, both serving the same purpose for their respective sails. The other lines do different jobs: sheets control the sail’s angle to the wind by pulling on the lower edge, a Cunningham tightens the luff to shape the sail, and an outhaul adjusts the foot tension along the boom. So the halyard is the line dedicated to hoisting and lowering sails.