Sailing Movies

The strings seem to be three or four feet long, and they are horizontal lines every eight feet or not, but these figures may be wrong it's hard to get a look at them. I do not know if they are to attach the sails, but it's better to guess.

They are called "reef points" are located on the top sails, sailing the second from the bottom of the mast. They are used to make the smaller sail in heavy weather.

Cat is correct. It is a way to reduce the amount of sail exposed to the wind. Too much sail in a strong wind can break the boat. When the reef are attached to the court, sailing in excess is rolled and tied in a bundle. Each sail, Spar, the court and posted on a sailboat had its own name, which was the same for all vessels. Registered confusion among the sailors when orders were given.

Your proposal is correct. They are reefing / furling lines to sail quickly to the court.