Beitass From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Viking ship partA beitass, or a stretching pole, is a wooden spar used on Viking ships that was fitted into a pocket at the lower corner of the sail. This innovation was used to stiffen and hold the edge of the sail when sailing close to the wind.[1][2][3] ↑ "Glossary of Viking Words". Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. ↑ Grambs, David (1993). Did I Say Something Wrong?. Penguin Group. p. 75. ISBN 0-452-26831-1. ↑ Gedney, Elias. Ships and Navigation of the SCA Period (PDF). East Kingdom Guild of St Erasmus. p. 11. vteParts of a sailing ship Aftercastle Afterdeck Anchor Anchor windlass Apparent wind indicator Beakhead Bilge Bilgeboard Bitts Boom brake Bow or prow Bowsprit Cable Capstan Cathead Carpenter's walk Centreboard Chains Cockpit Companionway Crow's nest Daggerboard Deck Figurehead Forecastle Frame Gangway Gunwale Head Hold Hull Jackline Jibboom Keel Canting Kelson Leeboard Mast Orlop deck Outrigger Poop deck Port Porthole Quarter gallery Quarterdeck Rib Rudder Ship's wheel Skeg Stem Starboard Stern or poop Sternpost Strake Taffrail Tiller Top Transom Whipstaff Winch Related Articles