A
spinnaker pole is a
spar used in
sailboats (both
dinghys and
yachts) to help support and control a variety of
headsails, particularly the
spinnaker. However, it is also used with other sails, such as
genoas and
jibs, when sailing
downwind with no spinnaker hoisted. (Since the load on a spinnaker pole is very light on this
point of sailing, sometimes a special light spinnaker pole called a
whisker pole is used in these circumstances.)