Glossary · Rig
Bowsprit
Also called: Bout-dehors, bout dehors, sprit, delphinière
A spar sticking out beyond the bow to carry the large headsails.
The bowsprit moves the tack of downwind sails (gennaker, code zero) forward, giving them more area and moving them away from the mainsail. It is excluded from hull length but included in length overall.
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No source yet · updated 30 Sept 2026