62 NICEOLLS'S SEAMANSHIP AND NAUTICAL KNOWLEDGE
Peak of a sail.—The upper after corner of a spanker or of a trysail
which sets on a gaff. It may be secured in position by a lashing, 01
hauled out with a "head outhaul."
The upper after corner of a boat's lugsail is also called the "peak."
Gaff peak.—The upper and after end of a gaff.
Roach of a sail.—Arch or curve in the foot and leeches of square sails,
Round of a sail.—The convex shape given to the luff and foot of a
jib or staysail.
GOIB cloths.—Cloths cut at an oblique angle to form the "roach"
or the "round."
Diagonal band.—A tapered strip of canvas extending diagonally
across a fore-and-aft sail from the clew to the luff rope. It covers the
seam joining the upper and lower parts of the sail and strengthens it by
fortifying it against the pull of the sheet.
Reef band.—The canvas band sewn across a sail in the way of the
reef points.
Reef points.—Pieces of point line (good manila) which are fitted in
eyelet holes worked through the cloths and reef bands of sails. They
are sewn to the bottom of the eyelet holes in fore-and-aft sails but to
the top in square sails. The reason for this is that fore-and-aft sails are
reefed on the foot, but square sails-are reefed on the head.
Linings.—Lengths of canvas worked along the edges of sails before
the rope is put on. The outer edge of the lining is secured by the roping
of the sail, the inner edge being sewn down with a flat seam. Linings
on a steamer's sails are about 1 foot wide except for about 5 feet up
from the clew and 3 or 4 feet along the foot where they are generally
given a full cloth.
Tabling.—A sail having been cut out and the cloths sewn together,
the edges all round are turned back for a width of about 4 inches and
sewn down flat. That part of the canvas which is turned back is called
the "tabling/'
CANVAS, ROPE, SAILS, Etc.
Ordinary British sail canvas is made of flax, the best qualities being
"all long flax." American canvas is made of cotton.
The threads running lengthwise are called the "warp," and those
tjrunning crosswise are called the "weft." The finished edge of the
canvas is called the "selvedge."
The stoutest canvas is No. 1, the next No. 2> the lightest in general
use being No. 6.