This is a great video discussing the outhaul which is used to help control the shape or draft of the lower part of the sail. This information combined with the previously video I posted in this blog on the backstay will get you well on your way to keep proper sail shape.

I thought this was a great video about adjusting the backstay.  In case you were wondering what the backstay is, it is a piece of standing rigging that runs from the transom to the top of the mast.  On many boats this piece of equipment can be adjusted while sailing.  If you have hung out at Sailnet's forum you will find the author involved in many conversations and is well respected.  This is a nice basic overview of tensioning the backstay and how this affects the handling of a sailboat.

You should come away from this video with the following points:

• identify where the backstay is located
• how this affects the shape of the mast and sail
• when you might want to add tension to the backstay

This is one of the basic nautical knots you will need to know . This knot is for attaching a line to a cleat on the boat or dock.