storseglet

Storseglet is a term used in Swedish nautical vocabulary to describe the main sail of a sailing vessel. It is typically the largest sail and is attached to the mainmast and the boom. In modern fore-and-aft rigging, storseglet usually refers to the triangular mainsail, which provides a major portion of the vessel’s propulsion and works together with the foresail (such as a jib or genoa) to generate lift and drive the boat forward.

Construction and rigging: The mainsail is hoisted with a halyard and trimmed at the foot with the mainsheet. Its shape is adjusted by controls such as the outhaul (foot tension), halyard tension (luff fullness), and various vang and purchase systems to control sail bend and twist. Reef points allow reducing the sail area in adverse wind conditions. On square-rigged vessels the term can also describe a large sail on the mainmast, though fore-and-aft mainsails are more common on modern yachts.

Operation and performance: Proper handling of storseglet is central to sailing efficiency. Sail trim, wind angle, and balance between mainsail and foresails determine speed and steerage. In light winds, the mainsail is brought forward of center to maximize power; in strong winds, reefing and flattening of the sail reduce heeling forces and maintain control.

History and terminology: The concept of a dominant mainsail emerged with the adoption of fore-and-aft rigs, evolving from traditional sail plans. Today, storseglet remains a core term in Swedish seamanship, used in training, navigation, and vessel descriptions to denote the primary sail of a ship or yacht.