Drogue

An inprovisied contraption used to slow down a sailing vessel, most commonly in a following-sea to prevent her from being pooped. I can vary from a long warp towed astern to a Spar with weighted Sail.

Frequently confused with a Sea-anchor.

It is reported that Sir Francis Drake used a Drogue of wineskins to slow the Golden Hind when chasing the treasure Ship Cacafuego in the Pacific to prevent alarming them by coming up too quickly.