Moonraker (sail)

A moonraker, also known as a moonsail,[1] hope-in-heaven, or hopesail,[citation needed] is a square sail flown immediately above a skysail (see sail-plan) on the royal masts of a square-rigged sailing ship. None of the four- and five-masted square-rigged ships carried a moonsail.[citation needed]

Regina Maris: the highest sail is moonsail, below that a skysail and next a royal sail

The equivalent sail, if triangular, is called a skyscraper.[1]

Moonrakers are relatively unusual sails only used on ships built primarily for speed.[citation needed]

References