Sea-anchor

Anything that will Hold a vessel with her Bow to the sea in heavy weather. This could include oars, barricoes, or even loose sails lashed togeather and veered from the Bow on a long Line will serve and suffice to assist a vessl in riding out a storm.

Not to be confused with a Drogue that is used to slow a vessel.

In extreem cases one of the ships anchors can even be lowered to some depth and used to steady the ships Head.