spinnaker

Downwind racing canvas

A spinnaker is a large, lightweight sail used on sailboats when running before the wind.

Unlike standard sails that attach along one edge, a spinnaker balloons out from the bow, capturing wind from behind to maximize speed on downwind legs.

The sail is typically colorful and billowy: The fleet's spinnakers filled as they rounded the mark.

shape

billow

Swell outward with air

bulge · fill · belly · puff · luff · flutter · collapse · curl · oscillate · stable

components

pole

Cylindrical shaft or extremity

  • guyChap or steadying cable
  • sheetFlat rectangular material
  • halyardSail-hoisting tackle

clew · tack · head · luff · leech · foot · turtle · sock · snuffer · swivel

racing

regatta

Organized boat racing event

  • fleetVehicles under unified command
  • runMove swiftly on foot
  • reachingExtending toward something

tactics · crew · bowman · trimmer · foredeck · skipper · helmsman · protest · overlap · inside

sail-type

genoa

Oversized forward sail

symmetric · blooper · reacher · staysail · drifter · flanker · kite · headsail

vessels

yacht

Large pleasure vessel

trimaran · sloop · ketch · schooner · racer · cruiser · offshore · inshore · Volvo

handling

hoist

Raise with tackle

  • douseWet completely, often flames
  • setArrange in position
  • furlRoll and secure

trim · gybe · jibe · peel · drop · launch · retrieve · fly · fill · collapse

Categories
Opposites
sail position and function

spinnakerjib

Triangular sail forward

genoa · headsail · forestaysail · staysail · mainsail

point of sail

spinnakerbeating

Repeated striking or pulsing

close-hauled · windward · upwind · tacking

Family

spinnakers

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G