headsail

A headsail is a sail set forward of the mast and attached to the forestay. It is one of the primary sails on most fore-and-aft rig boats, working with the mainsail to drive the vessel and help balance the sail plan, especially when sailing upwind.

The most common headsails are the jib and the genoa. A jib is a smaller sail that usually does not extend past the mast and provides good upwind performance with easy handling. A genoa is larger and overlaps the mainsail, giving more power in light to moderate winds; in heavy winds it can be reduced by reefing or replaced with a smaller jib to improve control and reduce weather helm and halyard load.

Other headsails include the staysail, typically mounted on an inner fore stay and not necessarily overlapping the mainsail; staysails are used with other sails on cutter or similar rigs to extend light-wind area and improve downwind performance.

Headsails may be fitted with fixed attachments or roller furling, which allows deployment and reefing from the cockpit. Trim is controlled by the headsail halyard (luff tension) and the sheets, which determine angle to the wind and the amount of overlap with the mainsail.

Sail material varies and includes polyester (Dacron) for durability, as well as laminated or composite fabrics for performance. The choice of headsail and its size are dictated by rig type, typical sailing conditions, and the desired balance of speed and control.