Bowsprit

The (regional also ) bowsprit ( / bu ː k ˌ ʃpri ː t / ) is a firmly attached to the hull of a sailing ship, projecting beyond the stem or the Galion strong spar that supports the forestay for supporting the foremast. The bowsprit extends mostly centrally at an acute angle relative to the horizontal in the fore and aft direction over the bow out. He can also be arranged horizontally and decentralized in smaller vehicles. Bowsprits were once exclusively of wood, from the 19th century also metals such as steel and aluminum are used for the production of a hollow body.

On larger vessels of the bowsprit spar with another, the jib-boom, a donkey head is connected. The retractable bowsprit was on some sailors. A bowsprit bowsprit combination that is made from a piece of sheet steel is called Pfahlbugspriet. He can be found on modern wind whining. Between foremast and bowsprit and jib-boom one or more staysail can be driven. At the bowsprit set to force balance mostly to pitching days. It is often clamped under the bowsprit a safety net.

Some historical types of ships were under the bowsprit one to two square sails, the blind and the blind upper set. At an eventual Sprietmast, one mounted on the bowsprit small mast, also a small square sail was run with the label top Blind. Bowsprits of historic ships such as galleons and frigates usually had a significantly greater angle to the horizontal than the newer sailors as Windjammer.