Peter that is a fantastic photo.

There are the 3 steam ferries or tug boats the rest powered by sail.

They are moored rather close together probably because of the location of Anchorage buoys.

They are moored and the reason that they have their sail still on the masts and yards is to dry them out to prevent mildew and rot as well as repair. Some may not put their sails below deck as the space could be used for cargo.

Sails etc stored below decks would be spares for storm damage etc. plus say lighter ones for certain weather conditions.
Of course if the wind got up the sails would be lowered and would be fastened to the masts or yards.

When I first came to Harrogate to work in late 1968 one of the chaps in the office was he said a Cape Horner when young, true or false I never found out but he could tell a good tale.

Allan C.