Mystery object

[Graham W]

Does anyone know what this multi-strapped piece of canvas is for?  I've dug it out of my shed and I'm fairly sure that it's boat-related.  It's made of the same material as my BR spray hood and my sail covers.

[steve jones]

I use a similar arrangement on my gaff cutter wrapped around the mast where there are halyard cleats for topping lift, peak and throat , and jackyard topsail, the cloth obviates the jib and staysail sheets from snagging

[Graham W]

Steve,

Ingenious but I've now remembered that it was for something different.  Aeons ago it was strung between the forward benches under the foredeck and was used to stow the anchor chain at the front of the boat but off the cockpit sole.  That space could then be used for other things, such as the battery and electrics.  Its use explains its dog-eared appearance and its extraordinary number of straps.

I also remember that I quickly found a much simpler solution to anchor chain stowage - a narrow rectangular window cleaner's bucket that fits nicely in the space between the forward centreboard case and the port bench.  I use an identical bucket on the starboard side for the stowage of warps.

[Tim Leary]

I thought it may have been an early example of Covid mask!

[MarkDarley]

Cod piece?

[Sea Simon]

Some kind of "Posterior Support", perhaps for use post racing when one has had a "difficult race"?

....also known as an "Arse Sling".

see
https://www.wordsense.eu/ass_in_a_sling/