Question 117 Deck General

70% to pass

You are at the helm of a schooner-rigged sailing vessel under sail on the port tack, on a beam reach, with all appropriate sails set and properly trimmed. You are instructed to "bear off quickly". To utilize your sails to assist with the turn, you should _______________.

A slack the fore-staysail sheet

B slack the jib sheet

C slack the foresail sheet

D slack the main sheet

AI Explanation

The correct answer is D) slack the main sheet. When instructed to "bear off quickly" on a schooner-rigged sailing vessel, slacking the main sheet is the appropriate action to take. This allows the mainsail to luff and generate less forward thrust, assisting the vessel in turning away from the wind. Slacking the other sails, such as the fore-staysail, jib, or foresail, would not have the same effect on the overall turn of the vessel. Keeping the main sheet tight would resist the turn, while slackening it allows the sails to help initiate and complete the required maneuver.

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