Sailcloth

The Sailcloth is an item used by Link in SS undefined and Zelda U.

Location
The Sailcloth was sewn together by Zelda herself to offer it to the winner of the Wing Ceremony. Before the ceremony, Zelda is seen wearing the Sailcloth like a shawl. It is a white cloth bearing a symbol similar to the Hylian Crest. After Link wins the Wing Ceremony, he and Zelda participate in a following ritual up the hands of the Statue of the Goddess. As part of the ritual, Zelda, acting as the goddess, blesses the Sailcloth. She then unties it from her back and hands it to Link. After she does so, Zelda mentions that legends tell that the goddess once gave a Sailcloth to her chosen hero, though the one Zelda gives to Link is obviously a different Sailcloth. To end the ritual, Zelda tells Link that he must leap from the statue and use the Sailcloth to land safely in the center of a circular design down below. She even challenges him to open the Sailcloth at the last second to show his courage. However, instead of giving him the opportunity to leap, Zelda pushes Link over the edge. After the ritual, the Sailcloth is available for Link to use when need be.

Uses
The Sailcloth works much like a parachute, as it is meant to slow Link's descent when dismounting a Loftwing or falling from a considerable height. Link can open the Sailcloth when nearing the ground to avoid damaging himself and safely touch down at his destination. When diving from The Sky to the world below, Link will automatically open the Sailcloth if not prompted to do so. While using the Sailcloth, Link will only fall straight to the ground, unable to steer in any other direction. Link can also tuck the Sailcloth away in certain areas to make a quicker landing. Aside from being used for gliding, the Sailcloth also allows Link to elevate to higher spots when a geyser or wind gust is nearby. The item can also be used to return to the Sky by riding columns of air generated by interacting with Bird Statues.

Zelda U
In Zelda U, the Sailcloth serves the same purpose as in Skyward Sword.

Trivia

 * If Link neglects to use the Sailcloth during their first descent to the Surface, Fi explains to him that she was able to deploy it before advising that he do so in the future, though exactly how she was able to open the Sailcloth for him is unknown.