Sea anchor

A large parachute-like drogue streamed from the bow on a long rode in survival conditions to hold the vessel head-to-sea and dramatically slow any drift. Distinct from a stern drogue.

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Related S-terms

Stay

A piece of standing rigging supporting a mast in the fore-and-aft direction.

Sheet

A line used to trim a sail — e.g. mainsheet, jib sheet, spinnaker sheet.

Stanchions

Vertical metal posts bolted to the deck edge that support the lifelines.

Standing rigging

The permanent wires (stays and shrouds) that support the mast — forestay, backstay, cap sh…

Spinnaker

A large, light downwind sail, symmetric or asymmetric, flown from a halyard rather than a …

Shroud

A piece of standing rigging running from a chainplate to the upper mast or spreader tip, s…

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