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Spanish reef

The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea | 2006 | 370 words | Copyright

Spanish reef, a method of reefing the topsails or topgallant sails of a square-rigged ship by lowering the yard on to the cap of the mast. It was, in British eyes in the days of the sailing navies, thought to be a slovenly method of shortening sail. Another form of Spanish reef, considered equally slovenly, was to shorten sail by tying a knot in the head of the jibs.

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"Spanish reef." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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