mainsheet

An hour later the mainsheet was hanging in the water and the boat drifted with the tide.

As the vessel came up, the mainsheet was yanked in by all hands, and then the men ran to the stations.

Hands by the clue-garnets and buntlines—man the mainsheet—let go those leech-lines, youngster—haul aboard.

The mainsail, half set, banged noisily and the mainsheet blocks lashed terrifically to and fro.