Spill the wind

spill the wind - To head up into the wind or loosen a sail, allowing the sails - to luff.
spindle buoy - A tall cone shaped navigational buoy.
spinnaker halyard - A halyard used to raise the spinnaker.

If you are sailing with the wind abeam and a squall smites you it may not be necessary to lower the mainsail at all. Ease the sheet right off so as to spill the wind, and you will pass safely through the ordeal without parting a rope yarn.

See also: Luff, Give, Reefing, Run, Heads