Laminate sail

A sail made of composite panels — typically film-over-fibre (e.g. Dacron, polyester, Kevlar, or carbon) laminated together — offering better shape-holding than woven cloth.

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Related L-terms

Luff

(1) The leading edge of a sail. (2) The fluttering of a sail caused by pointing the boat t…

Leeway

The sideways slippage of the hull to leeward caused by the sail's horizontal force compone…

Life raft

A self-inflating, canister- or valise-packed survival craft launched in an abandon-ship si…

Lifesling

A buoyant horseshoe-shaped sling on a floating line, deployed to trail astern during a man…

LOA

Length Overall — the maximum fore-and-aft hull length, excluding bowsprits and pulpits unl…

Lazarette

A stowage locker let into the cockpit sole, seats, or afterdeck.

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