What are the holes in the sprit sail for?

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

What are the holes in the sprit sail for? In several models there are two of them, as if they are used to look through the sail itself. What time in history did they appear, and what were they for?

 

[kalliboot]

they are to drain the water splashing into the sail

 

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

they are to drain the water splashing into the sail

Thanks! I never would have thought of that.

 

[Jim J]

Maybe to sprit through ?

 

[Steef66]

For the buntlines, the only sail where they pass through