Bowsprit of the Falls of Clyde, showing the dolphin striker, the use of chain for the bobstays, and three furled jibs. For the Scottish waterfalls and wildlife reserve see Falls of Clyde (waterfalls. A jib (also spelled jibb) is a triangular Staysail set ahead of the foremost mast of a sailing boat (The yellowish pole is the bowsprit of a different vessel. )

The bowsprit, or boltsprit, of a sailing vessel is a pole extending forward from the vessel's prow. Sailing is the art of controlling a Sailing vessel. By changing the Rigging, Rudder and dagger or centre board a Sailor manages the force It provides an anchor point for the forestay(s), allowing the fore-mast to be stepped further forward on the hull. The mast of a sailing ship is a tall vertical or near vertical Spar, or arrangement of Spars which supports the Sails Large ships have several masts

On large tall ships the bowsprit may be a considerable length and have several forestays attached. A tall ship is a large traditionally rigged sailing vessel Popular modern tall ship rigs include topsail Schooners Brigantines Brigs and On a Sailing vessel a forestay, sometimes just called a stay is a piece of Standing rigging which keeps a mast from falling backwards When not in use the foresails are stowed by being tied onto the bowsprit. A sail is any type of surface intended to generate Thrust by being placed in a Wind &mdashin essence a vertically-oriented Wing. The crew must then work out on the bowsprit to stow or prepare the sails. To minimise the risk of the bowsprit (and any crew working on it) being buried in large waves, the bowsprit is normally angled upwards from the horizontal.

Bowsprit of the Dar Pomorza as seen from the deck, showing safety netting. The Dar Pomorza is a Polish sailing Frigate, currently preserved in Gdynia as a Museum ship.

Early ocean-going vessels tended to tilt the bowsprit at a high angle, and hung one or two square spritsails from yards. The spritsail is a form of three or four-sided fore-aft Sail and its Rig. In the 17th century and early 18th century a vertical sprit topmast was added near the end of the bowsprit and another square sail added to it; this was not a particularly successful design however, the mast tending to carry away in heavy weather. As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system Fore-and-aft sails known as jibs hung from the stays proved more useful for speed and maneuvering, and the basic bowsprit was lengthened with a jibboom and then even further with a flying jibboom, resulting in bowsprits of tremendous length, up to 30 meters total. A jib (also spelled jibb) is a triangular Staysail set ahead of the foremost mast of a sailing boat

On smaller vessels, where the bowsprit is not used for stowing sails, it is often horizontal. Bowsprits are rare on modern yachts; the forestay merely runs down to the tip of the bow. A yacht is a recreational boat It designates two rather different classes of Watercraft, sailing and power yachts On some modern racing yachts and dinghies, the bowsprit is retractable and primarily used to fly an asymmetrical spinnaker. A dinghy is a type of small Boat, often carried or towed by a larger vessel A spinnaker is a special type of Sail that is designed specifically for Sailing off the wind from a reaching course to a downwind i

The very end of the bowsprit is traditionally painted white on tall ships, unless the ship in question has ventured into either the Arctic or Antarctic circles, in which case it is painted blue (i. A tall ship is a large traditionally rigged sailing vessel Popular modern tall ship rigs include topsail Schooners Brigantines Brigs and e. bluenose).

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