spritsail
Diagonal-pole-stretched sail
A spritsail is a four-sided sail extended by a diagonal pole called a sprit, which runs from the lower mast to the sail's upper outer corner.
Common on small craft like dinghies and traditional Thames barges, spritsails are valued for their simplicity—no boom is required, and they're easily managed by a small crew.
The old fishing boat still carried its original spritsail.
Forward-projecting ship pole
- yardLinear measure or grounds
- halyardSail-hoisting tackle
- brailSmall fishing net
- sheetFlat rectangular material
clew · tack · forestay · shrouds · boom · gaff · downhaul · outhaul
European maritime expansion era
- galleonLarge historical sailing ship
- caravelSmall Portuguese exploration ship
- carrackLarge 15th-century merchantman
- clipperFast ship or trimmer
square-rigger · man-of-war · brigantine · barque · merchantman · privateer · armada · tall ship
bowsprit
Forward-projecting ship pole
sheet · clew · tack · forestay · shrouds · boom · gaff · downhaul · outhaul · furler
Age of Discovery
European maritime expansion era
- galleonLarge historical sailing ship
- caravelSmall Portuguese exploration ship
- carrackLarge 15th-century merchantman
clipper · square-rigger · man-of-war · brigantine · barque · merchantman · privateer · armada · tall ship · exploration
dinghy
Small auxiliary watercraft