Spanker

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by AlanE (talk | contribs) at 21:36, March 24, 2013. It may differ significantly from current revision.


The spanker is the large gaff-rigged sail that appeared on the mizzen (rear or aft mast) of nearly all square-rigged European sailing ships during the 18th century and lasted until the end of the age of sail. It was developed to aid sailing before a following wind. It replaced the lateen sail that had previously occupied the aft mast - its advantage being that it did not interfere with the setting of square rig sails on the same mast.