What is "forestaysail"

Usage examples of "forestaysail".

John had no resource but to put up a forestaysail, and run before the gale.

Bonden, peering through his blood, and following his gaze Jack saw the jib and forestaysail blowing free.

One morning after a day and a night of such a blast that the frigate could carry no more than a close-reefed maintopsail and forestaysail, Stephen, who had had little sleep until the changing of the watch at four, made his rounds late after a solitary breakfast in the gunroom.

Jack swarmed out after him, his head under the foam, feeling for the gaskets of the forestaysail, snugged down tight under the stay.

Slowly, heavily she turned as the forestaysail took the strain, the great wave racing up -turned, turned just enough and took it on her quarter: rose to the height, and the full blast in the head-sail set her right before the wind.

A man-of-war bird passed a few feet overhead, its long forked tall opening and closing as it glided through the swirling currents about the forestaysail and the jibs, but neither Jack nor Stephen moved their steady gaze from the land.

He held back the forestaysail and guided Stephen to the larboard cathead, where they stood gazing across an even deeper blue expanse of sea to the African shore.

Very soon we were reduced to a storm forestaysail and a few other scraps.

Her forestaysail and mizzen spanker were set as though an effort had been made to hold her head up into the wind, but the sheets had parted, and the sails were tearing to ribbons in the half gale of wind.

You see they carry forestaysails, just as we do: they are the only merchantmen you will ever see with a forestaysail.

The wind, a strong reefed-topsail breeze in the south-west, was kicking up an odd little cross-sea in the harbour, and as Reade, who had brought the Ringle round to face Southsea Castle, filled his forestaysail, leaving the Bellona's towering side and getting under way, the long low schooner took on a curious fidgeting motion like a horse held in, dancing on his toes, cager to be off.

But this was not all: even before the small bower was fished, the jib, forestaysail and foretopgallant had appeared and the frigate was moving faster and faster through the water, heading almost straight for the Nore light.