Bowsprit
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The bowsprit of a sailing vessel is a spar extending forward from the vessel's prow. The bowsprit is typically held down by a bobstay that counteracts the forces from the forestays. The bowsprit’s pur
Bowsprit held down by a bobstay
Bowsprit with forestays and bobstays
Spritsail (square-rigged)
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On large sailing ships a spritsail is a square-rigged sail carried on a yard below the bowsprit.
Bowsprit
…The word bowsprit is thought to originate from the Middle Low German bōchsprēt – bōch 'bow', and sprēt 'pole'. On some square-rigged ships a spritsail is flown below the bowsprit; these are sometimes accompanied by a sprit topmast, which serves to assist the spritsail while tacking. The bowsprit may…
A replica of the Batavia setting a spritsail (lower right) and a sprit-topsail