Take In a Sail

To lower, furl or otherwise remove a sail from use.

The instruction may mean lowering a sail onto the deck or boom, rolling it on a furler or bringing it aboard, according to the sail and rig. It differs from reefing, which reduces the working area while leaving the sail set.

Crew should prepare halyards, sheets, downhauls and the receiving area before release and keep clear of loaded lines and moving spars. Because “take in” has other general meanings, naming the sail makes the command clearer.