1) Aid for upwind maneuvers 2) Japanese girl group 
A trysail (also known as a `spencer`) is a small triangular or square fore-and-aft rigged sail hoisted in place of a larger sail when winds are very high. The trysail provides enough thrust to maintain control of the ship (e.g. to avoid ship damage, and to keep the bow to the wind). It is hoisted abaft (i.e., directly behind) the mainmast (takin.....
ship's sail bent to a gaff and hoisted on a lower mast
ship's sail bent to a gaff and hoisted on a lower mast
• (n.) A fore-and-aft sail, bent to a gaff, and hoisted on a lower mast or on a small mast, called the trysail mast, close abaft a lower mast; -- used chiefly as a storm sail. Called also spencer.
A very strong storm sail used in place of the main, it is normally loose footed.
A very small sail, used in a very heavy weather instead of a mainsail.
A triangular loose-footed sail fitted aft of the mast, often used to replace the mainsail in heavy weather.
A small fore-and-aft sail hoisted abaft the foremast and mainmast in a storm to keep a ship's bow to the wind.