Day 625.

The main sail is the largest sail on the ship.  The bottom edge is about 14′ long.  Getting it installed has a big impact on the look of the model, but since it requires so much material I wanted to wait until I ‘got the hang of making sails’.

The main sail turned out perfect on the first try.  It was made the same way as the previous sails, including the reef bands and ropes.

The template for the main sail.

Attaching to the Main Boom and Main Gaff

Like the fore sail, the main sail is supported by its boom and gaff.  The main boom and gaff were de-rigged and removed from the ship.  The sail was laced onto each, and the boom and gaff were re-installed on the ship.

The sail is laced to the main boom and gaff.

Typical lacing…but be careful not to run laces over the tackle.

Lacing on the gaff.  Note the corner of the sail is tied to the ring on the gaff.

Be careful that the lacing doesn’t interfere with the blocks for the peak halliard.

Mast Hoops

Just as with the fore mast, mast hoops are used with the main sail.  These wooden hoops hold the main sail to the main mast.  These were made and installed a while back.  Each hoop was tied to the sail with a short piece of thread.

Mast hoops are tied with rigging line.

The completed main sail.

View at the deck.

Looking up from the stern.