Tell Tales

Tell Tales are small ribbons or yarns tied to sails to show the direction and quality of the wind flow. Sailors have used versions of them for centuries — even the Vikings reportedly tied bits of animal hair or yarn to their sails to read the wind more accurately on long voyages.

Sailor’s note: Modern racers still rely on telltales, and a well-trimmed sail with streaming ribbons can add surprising speed — sometimes the difference between winning and losing a race comes down to watching those little threads!