HMS Victory spanker

The spanker or driver is the lowest sail on the mizzen mast. It is rigged to a boom and a gaff.

C.Benson

Yeah, me too. Poopdecks and now spankers; those seafarers were a kinky lot! tia

Keeper (of too much crap)

The spanker is a fore-and-aft sail on the rearmost mast of a ship. In addition to provide thrust, it helps to balance the helm against the action of the various jibs and staysails that are used in going to winward.

It is called the "mizzen" sail, not "missen." Not likely. Buntlines normally run forward of the sails.

The definitive book is Eighteent-Century Rigs and Rigging, by Markquardt, published by Cornell Maritime Press. However, for Victory, you should refer to "The Anatomy of Nelson's Ships." Can't remember the author or publisher.

Boris

_The Anatomy of Nelson's Ships_ by C. Nepean Longridge. My edition was published in 1994 by Naval Institute Press, ISBN 0-87021-077-7. Despite the plural "Ships" in the title, the book is a very detailed work on modeling the Victory. I believe it was originally written in the late 1950's, so later research may have rendered some details in it incorrect, but overall it's an excellent resource.

Dave