Spinnaker Pole

A spar used to position the windward clew or guy of a symmetric spinnaker away from the mast.

Its inboard end attaches to a mast fitting and its outboard end carries the guy or brace. A topping lift supports it, a foreguy or downhaul controls upward movement, and these controls establish height and angle for sail shape and stability.

The pole is a compression member and can swing or release violently during gybes or collapse. End fittings, trip lines, mast track, topping lift and foreguy must be understood and kept clear, and it should not be confused with a whisker pole used to hold out a conventional headsail.