Abstract: A sail line stopper is provided for controlling the rate of movement of a sailing line prior to or subsequent to the locking of a line in a fixed position. The sail sheet stopper has a base with a channel formed therethrough. A plurality of closely spaced links are mounted for pivotal movement in the base and each of the links has an opening with the line openings forming a channel through which the line to be controlled is positioned. A handle is coupled to the links for controlling the pivotal movement of the links in the base. In a first position the handle aligns the openings allowing the line to move freely through the channel, and in a second position the openings are out of alignment thereby restricting the size of the channel through which the line moves to lock the line in the channel.