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On a square rigged ship, the spanker is a gaff-rigged fore-and-aft sail set from, and aft of, the aftmost mast.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Spankers are also called driver, jigger, and pusher sail.<ref name="Harvesting the wind">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
On a schooner of four or more masts, the spanker is the sail on the mast nearest the stern.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The spanker is a small sail, but as it is so far aft of the balance point of the hull, it has strong leverage. When sheeted in, the spanker is important in driving the boat to a new tack.<ref name="Harvesting the wind"/>