Which technique helps depower sails by flattening in heavy air while maintaining pointing?

• A. Tighten the vang
• B. Loosen the downhaul
• C. Loosen the halyard
• D. Advance the jib leads

Answer: (A)

Tightening the vang is the technique that depowers the mainsail by flattening it, while still keeping the boat pointing upwind. The vang pulls the boom downward, which reduces the sail’s twist and lowers the top draft. A flatter mainsail carries less power, making the boat easier to handle in heavy air. At the same time, keeping the sail flatter helps maintain a forward center of effort, so you can stay on a close-hauled angle rather than being pushed off course.

Loosening the downhaul or halyard would increase sail shape or twist, adding power rather than reducing it, and moving the jib leads affects the headsail more than the mainsail’s flattening. So the direct, effective way to depower while preserving pointing is to use the vang to flatten the main.