Fig. 60a.
The Spinnaker is a large jib-headed sail of light canvas only used for running before the wind, when it is boomed out on the opposite side to the mainsail. The spinnaker-boom works on a gooseneck on the foreside of the mast, and, when not in use, is generally topped up so as to lie along the mast On large yachts the spinnaker-boom, when topped up, rises above the hounds, so that it has always to be unshipped for a jibe. It is more convenient on a small cruising yacht to have a shorter boom that will dip under the forestay, and can therefore be passed over to the other side without being unshipped. In Fig. 60 a cutter is represented sailing before the wind with spinnaker set. In Fig. 60a, a is the goose-neck on the mast to which the spinnaker-boom, b, is attached; c is the topping lift which supports the boom when the spinnaker is set, and by means of which the boom is topped up along the mast; d is the after-guy, which is fastened to the spinnaker
