Definition

Noun: A triangular or quadrilateral fore-and-aft sail. Its distinguishing feature is that it is set on a stay—a supporting rope, wire, or rod—rather than on a mast or a yard. It is commonly set between two masts or from a mast to the deck.

Usage

A staysail is a specific type of sail used on sailing vessels. It is always attached to a stay, which is part of the vessel's rigging. The term is used to describe the sail itself within the context of sailing, boat design, and maritime activities. * The schooner's efficiency was increased by adding a staysail between the main and foremasts. * During the storm, the crew reefed the staysail to reduce the boat's heeling.

Advanced Usage

• As part of a sail plan: Staysails are often named according to their location on the rigging (e.g., inner staysail, outer staysail). A common type is the staysail schooner, which is a schooner whose primary fore-and-aft sails are staysails set on the stays between the masts, as opposed to gaff-rigged sails.
• "To set a staysail": This phrase describes the action of hoisting and securing this type of sail.

Variants and Related Words

• Sail (n): The general term for a piece of fabric extended on rigging to catch the wind and propel a vessel. A staysail is a type of sail.
• Fore-and-aft sail (n): A sail set along the line of the keel (front-to-back), as opposed to a square sail. All staysails are fore-and-aft sails.
• Jib (n): A specific type of staysail set on the stay running from the foremast to the bowsprit (the forward-most point of the ship).
• Stay (n): The strong rope, wire, or rod that supports a mast and to which a staysail is attached.

Synonyms

• Headsail: A general term for any sail set forward of the foremost mast. Many, but not all, staysails are headsails.
• Foresail: This can sometimes refer to a staysail set on the forestay, but it is a less precise term.

Related Phrases and Nautical Terms

• "Under staysail alone": A sailing condition where the vessel is powered only by one or more staysails, often in heavy weather when larger sails have been taken down.
  • The yacht rode out the gale under staysail alone.

Noun

1. a fore-and-aft sail set on a stay (as between two masts)