Question 139 Deck General

The correct answer is A) The sail area is reduced. When a sail is reefed, the area of the sail is intentionally reduced by furling or securing a portion of the sail. This is done to decrease the overall sail area and provide better control of the boat in stronger winds. By reducing the sail area, the boat's performance and stability are improved, especially in heavy weather conditions. The other options are incorrect because reefing a sail does not widen the sail area (B), increase the sail area (C), or leave the sail area unchanged (D). Reefing is a technique used to decrease the sail area for better maneuverability and safety.