When repairing a torn sail at sea, you should __________.

Correct Answer: Option A — be sure to orient the weave of the patch material, on large patches, in the same orientation as the sail cloth being repaired

Sailcloth has anisotropic stretch characteristics. Orienting the weave of a patch parallel to the base cloth grain ensures uniform load distribution and prevents localized distortion or seam failure under high aerodynamic stress loads.