The spritsail is a four-sided, fore-and-aft sail that is supported at the peak by a diagonally running spar known as the sprit. The forward end of the sprit is attached to the mast, to which the luff of the sail is bound. The foot of the sail can be stretched by a boom or loose-footed. The boom can be of the standard type that runs along the foot of the sail, or be a sprit-boom, which is attached to the mast above the tack of the sail and at the aft end to the clew, as shown in this image. A benefit of the sprit boom is that it is self-vanging; the portion of the sail below the sprit prevents the sail from hiking up when you ease the sheet.
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