Beitass

A beitass, or stretching pole, is a wooden spar used on Viking ships that was fitted into a pocket at the lower corner of the sail. This innovation was used to stiffen and hold the edge of the sail when sailing close to the wind.[1] [2] [3][4] [5]

References

  1. ^ "Ship construction Topics". http://duckduckgo.com/c/Ship_construction. 
  2. ^ "Glossary of Viking Words". http://www.alisons-world.net/vglossary.html. 
  3. ^ Grambs, David (1993). Did I Say Something Wrong?. Penguin Group. pp. 75. ISBN 0-452-26831-1. 
  4. ^ Gedney, Elias. Ships and Navigation of the SCA Period. East Kingdom Guild of St Erasmus. pp. 11. 
  5. ^ Culver, Henry B (1992). The Book of Old Ships: from Egyptian Galleys to Clipper Ships. Dover Publications. ISBN 0-486-27332-6. http://books.google.com/books?id=Ppwj-zCZCOoC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false. 
Parts of a sailing ship