Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 12, 2026

Raffee sail

A raffee sail is a triangular topsail carried aboard certain sailing ships. Originally used in ancient Rome to maneuver ships at sea, the raffee was eventually implemented as a downwind sail set below a square-rigged yard to fill in areas needed for light airs. In later pilot schooners, it was a triangular sail set above a yard from the masthead. Today a "raffee" is any square downwind sail set off the mast at a right angle.

Last revised
Jun 12, 2026
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A raffee sail is a triangular topsail carried aboard certain sailing ships. Originally used in ancient Rome to maneuver ships at sea,1 the raffee was eventually implemented as a downwind sail set below a square-rigged yard to fill in areas needed for light airs. In later pilot schooners, it was a triangular sail set above a yard from the masthead. Today a "raffee" is any square downwind sail set off the mast at a right angle.2

References

References

  1. L. Sprague de Campe (1963). The Ancient Engineers. Barnes & Noble. p. 209.
  2. Mendal Johnson (November 1972). "Sailplans". Motorboating & Sailing. p. 105.