Spritsail (square-rigged)
Encyclopedia
On large sailing ships a spritsail is a square-rigged sail carried on a yard
below the bowsprit
.
In some languages (such as German) it is known as a "blind", because it effectively blocks forward vision when set.
Spritsails were commonly used on sailing vessels from the first carracks until about 1800. Towards the end of this period, some ships also flew a sprit-topsail from a short topmast
that rose vertically above the fore end of the bowsprit.
The full-rigged ships of the golden age of sail had no spritsails, as the area under the bowsprit was instead occupied by rigging (martingales
and dolphin striker
) that reinforced the bowsprit and jib boom against the forces of an increasing number of jib
s.
Yard (sailing)
A yard is a spar on a mast from which sails are set. It may be constructed of timber, steel, or from more modern materials, like aluminium or carbon fibre. Although some types of fore and aft rigs have yards , the term is usually used to describe the horizontal spars used with square sails...
below the bowsprit
Bowsprit
The bowsprit of a sailing vessel is a pole extending forward from the vessel's prow. It provides an anchor point for the forestay, allowing the fore-mast to be stepped farther forward on the hull.-Origin:...
.
In some languages (such as German) it is known as a "blind", because it effectively blocks forward vision when set.
Spritsails were commonly used on sailing vessels from the first carracks until about 1800. Towards the end of this period, some ships also flew a sprit-topsail from a short topmast
Topmast
The masts of traditional sailing ships were not single spars, but were constructed of separate sections or masts, each with its own rigging. The topmast is one of these.The topmast is semi-permanently attached to the upper front of the lower mast, at the top...
that rose vertically above the fore end of the bowsprit.
The full-rigged ships of the golden age of sail had no spritsails, as the area under the bowsprit was instead occupied by rigging (martingales
Martingale (rigging)
A martingale is a fore-and-aft stay lying directly beneath the bowsprit strengthening it and, if extended from the sprit a jibboom, against upward force created by the head stays....
and dolphin striker
Dolphin striker
A Dolphin striker is a small vertical or near vertical spar spanning between the bowsprit and martingale thereby redirecting the direction of the tension in the forward end of the martingale slightly more vertically...
) that reinforced the bowsprit and jib boom against the forces of an increasing number of jib
Jib
A jib is a triangular staysail set ahead of the foremast of a sailing vessel. Its tack is fixed to the bowsprit, to the bow, or to the deck between the bowsprit and the foremost mast...
s.