` See that you stow that main-topsail in a brace of shakes!.    From Wordnik.com.  [Picked up at Sea The Gold Miners of Minturne Creek] Reference

The main-topsail was taken in, and the ship left under the main topsail only.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Wreck on the Andamans] Reference

At last her foreyard went in the slings, and her main-topsail in ribbons, and she righted.    From Wordnik.com.  [A Sailor of King George] Reference

Therefore, the main-topsail of the Duke William was taken in, and three pumps got out to be ready in case of necessity.    From Wordnik.com.  [Thrilling Narratives of Mutiny, Murder and Piracy A weird series of tales of shipwreck and disaster, from the earliest part of the century to the present time, with accounts of providential escapes and heart-rending fatalities.] Reference

Two lengths of the main-topsail halliards; he had to keep his head clear to prevent his fumbling fingers from entangling them.    From Wordnik.com.  [Hornblower In The West Indies]

At the same moment, too, with a loud double report, the foresail and main-topsail blew out of the bolt-ropes, floating away in the distance.    From Wordnik.com.  [The White Squall A Story of the Sargasso Sea] Reference

But he hurried to the helm, put it hard down, while Wilson, leaving the line, hauled at the main-topsail brace to bring the ship to the wind.    From Wordnik.com.  [In Search of the Castaways] Reference

Simultaneously, there was the shrieking of a parrel, up the main; and I knew that someone, or something, had let go the main-topsail haul-yards.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Ghost Pirates] Reference

The "Pegasus" now shoots ahead, bidding fair to overhaul the corvettes, but her ambition is speedily curbed by the springing of her main-topsail yard.    From Wordnik.com.  [In Eastern Seas Or, the Commission of H.M.S. 'Iron Duke,' flag-ship in China, 1878-83] Reference

In loosing and furling you are on the main-topsail.    From Wordnik.com.  [Up The Baltic Young America in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark] Reference

Nearly all your duty is connected with the main-topsail.    From Wordnik.com.  [Up The Baltic Young America in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark] Reference

In getting under way, you will help loose the main-topsail.    From Wordnik.com.  [Up The Baltic Young America in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark] Reference

"Now stand by to let run your fore and main-topsail halliards!".    From Wordnik.com.  [The Cruise of the "Esmeralda"] Reference

"Stand by the fore - and main-topsail braces!" shouted the captain.    From Wordnik.com.  [Fast in the Ice Adventures in the Polar Regions] Reference

The first man on the shrouds and out upon the main-topsail yard was Sam.    From Wordnik.com.  [Fast in the Ice Adventures in the Polar Regions] Reference

"We must furl the main-topsail," exclaimed Mr Grey, as soon as the yards were squared.    From Wordnik.com.  [Owen Hartley; or, Ups and Downs A Tale of Land and Sea] Reference

"Fill the main-topsail," cried I. "Up with your helm, my man, and let her gather way.".    From Wordnik.com.  [The Cruise of the "Esmeralda"] Reference

For six days we were scudding before it under a close-reefed main-topsail and fore-staysail.    From Wordnik.com.  [Borneo and the Indian Archipelago with drawings of costume and scenery] Reference

"A brown patch in the big main-topsail, and the bowsprit steeved more'n ordinary," said Joe.    From Wordnik.com.  [Blackbeard: Buccaneer] Reference

She was hove to, with her mizzen-topsail aback and the main-topsail shivering, waiting for us.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Rival Crusoes] Reference

There was no sail now on the ship but the spanker and the close-reefed main-topsail, which still held good.    From Wordnik.com.  [Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 11] Reference

"Here they are," added the lieutenant, conducting his pupil to the rail, and pointing out the main-topsail halyards.    From Wordnik.com.  [Up The Baltic Young America in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark] Reference

The courses were hauled up, the ship's head was turned off shore, the main-topsail was backed, and she remained stationary.    From Wordnik.com.  [Owen Hartley; or, Ups and Downs A Tale of Land and Sea] Reference

French 74-gun ship, who, backing his main-topsail, steadily received and returned the fire of these three ships in succession.    From Wordnik.com.  [How Britannia Came to Rule the Waves Updated to 1900] Reference

The ship was now under mizen-topsail, close-reefed main-topsail, and fore-topsail and foresail, no new mainsail having been bent.    From Wordnik.com.  [A Boy's Voyage Round the World] Reference

The shadow of the main-topsail screened me from the sun; there was just enough wind to keep the canvas doing its work in silence.    From Wordnik.com.  [A Tramp's Notebook] Reference

At length, all the canvas was taken off the ship, except a close-reefed main-topsail, when the helm was put down, and she was hove-to.    From Wordnik.com.  [Archibald Hughson An Arctic Story] Reference

They were ready to go ashore when Captain Bonnet's navigator ordered the main-topsail laid aback and the brig slowly swung into the wind.    From Wordnik.com.  [Blackbeard: Buccaneer] Reference

I hailed, in French, as, with main-topsail aback, we surged and wallowed slowly athwart the stern of the stranger, "do you wish to be taken off?".    From Wordnik.com.  [The Castaways] Reference

Some sailors being aloft in the main-topsail rigging, the captain had ordered them to race down, threatening the hindmost with the cat-of-nine-tails.    From Wordnik.com.  [North and South] Reference

The main-topsail being thrown aback we were enabled to drop clear of this immense body, which would have been a dangerous neighbour in a heavy seaway.    From Wordnik.com.  [Journal of the Third Voyage for the Discovery of a North-West Passage] Reference