What is a 'sail unfurled'?

Question

Josh Pyke has a song called "Lines on Palms" and some of the lyrics go as follows:

"And it can get rough out there I know,

But a woman is a sail that remains unfurled,

So stay ahead of the wind man, or you won't catch her".

I know nothing about sailing so can anyone explain the analogy here?

Answer 1

Well, in light wind you want the sail to form a pocket so that it catches more wind

in heavy windy you want the sail to be flat so you heel more and less wind gets caught in the sail.

What the song is saying is when you open the sail it catches wind so it goes faster

hope I helped

Answer 2

A sail unfurled means opened up.

Answer 3

To spread or open (something) out or become spread or opened out.