Britannica AI Icon

Quick Summary

A flying jibboom is an extension of a ship's bowsprit, used to carry multiple jibs, which are triangular sails rigged from the foremast to the bowsprit or jibboom. These sails were valuable for steering and improving sailing performance, especially when sailing close to the wind. While modern sailboats often omit bowsprits and jibbooms, they were common on larger sailing vessels historically. The term "jib" is also related to the action of a sail or boom suddenly shifting sides, known as jibing.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
3 Britannica Sources
  1. jib
  2. crane
  3. jibe

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.