Luff (Noun)
Meaning 1
(nautical) the forward edge of a fore-and-aft sail that is next to the mast.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The luff of the mainsail was trimmed to optimize the boat's speed in the light wind.
- A sail is most efficient when its luff is parallel to the direction of the airflow.
- As the sailor sheeted in, the luff of the sail began to vibrate with the increasing pressure.
- To properly hoist the sail, attach the halyard to the luff and pull it up the mast.
- By tightening the jib's luff, the crew hoped to squeeze out a bit more speed from the struggling boat.
Meaning 2
The act of sailing close to the wind.
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- As we sailed into the narrow strait, our crew had to work hard to maintain the luff.
- The sailor's mistake caused the sail to lose its luff, resulting in a dramatic loss of speed.
- The experienced skipper expertly trimmed the sail to maintain a perfect luff, maximizing our boat's velocity.
- We struggled to hold the luff in the strong gusts of wind, but our training eventually paid off.
- After adjusting the sheets, our sail suddenly regained its luff, propelling us forward once again.