Trysails
Sea Terms
Fore-and-aft gaff-sails which are carried on the fore and main masts of a ship, hoisting on small masts (trysail-masts) abaft the lower mast. These sails are also known as spencers, while the fore-and-aft sail carried at the mizzen mast of a ship or bark is called a spanker. But all these sails are referred to as trysails when set during gales of wind, in order to lay the vessel to or to head-reach under them.
