Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Inuit hunter preparing to winch Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) onto ice floe. Northwest Greenland, 1989.

Toby Roxburgh / European sprats (Sprattus sprattus sprattus) being winched ashore from a trawler at Brixham Harbour, Devon, England, UK, 2009.

Benoit Stichelbaut / Crew trimming the sails with an electric winch aboard 118ft schooner "Magistral", 2002.

Benoit Stichelbaut / Metal winch upon schooner

Benoit Stichelbaut / Winching during Orma Multihull Championship 2003, on trimaran "Belgacom"

Benoit Stichelbaut / Close-up of winch aboard "Ranger", Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, April 2005

Benoit Stichelbaut / Armel le Cleac'h at work on his 60ft "Brit Air" during the Route Du Rhum Transatlantic race, 2006

Billy Black / Winch aboard Amel 54 ketch "Hollis", Caribbean. 2006. Property Released.

Billy Black / Winch aboard a Hunter 49 yacht off St. Augustine, Florida, USA.

Benoit Stichelbaut / Winch and sheet on "Sun Odyssey" 35 yacht

Philip Stephen / Fishermen on the Fraserburgh-registered fishing vessel Carisanne winch a net of cod and haddock onboard in the North Sea, June 2007

Philip Stephen / Fishermen onboard the Peterhead-registered fishing vessel Demares winch in a catch of haddock whilst fishing in the rough North Sea

Onne van der Wal / Ropes and winch onboard 88ft sloop yacht "Shaman" cruising at sunset, Dominican Republic, Caribbean.

Onne van der Wal / 35.46m / 116.3ft Fontaine design yacht "Whisper", built in 2003, flying the Cayman Islands flag. Launched at the Holland Jachtbouw yard, the interior design is by Andrew Winch Designs.

Onne van der Wal / Electric winch buttons on the deck aboard cruising yacht. Rhode Island, USA.

Onne van der Wal / Man pulling on ropes to winch a boat-part into place during the construction of a yacht.

Onne van der Wal / Crew member onboard "Maximus" wrapping the sheet around a winch during the 2006 Newport to Bermuda Race.

Onne van der Wal / Crew member onboard "Maximus" holding a wrapped sheet around a winch during the 2006 Newport to Bermuda Race.

Onne van der Wal / Loaded winch aboard a classic cruising yacht. Rhode Island, USA.

Onne van der Wal / Winch detail onboard 140ft luxury schooner "Skylge", designed by André Hoek and built by Holland Jachtbouw, sailing in the French Riviera, France. Property released.

Onne van der Wal / Winch detail aboard a wooden boat at the Newport Wooden Boat Show, Rhode Island.

Onne van der Wal / Electric winch buttons on the deck aboard cruising yacht. Rhode Island, USA.

Onne van der Wal / Crew member onboard "Maximus" holding a wrapped sheet around a winch during the 2006 Newport to Bermuda Race. Property Released.

Rick Tomlinson / Guests on superyacht Adele enjoy the view from the crow's nest, which can be hoisted and lowered by a hydraulic captive winch. It reaches 40 metres above the waterline. ^^^ Adele is 180 foot Andre Ho...

Angelo Giampiccolo / Winch on a Continential 80 motor yacht, designed and built at Cantieri CNM. Cannes, France.

Rick Tomlinson / Guests enjoy spectacular mountain views from the crow's nest of the Superyacht "Adele". The crow's nest can be hoisted and lowered by a hydraulic captive winch. It reaches 40 metres above the waterlin...

Angelo Giampiccolo / Diver exploring an anchor's winch on the prow's deck on wreck of the SS Thistlegorm, located in the Straits of Gubal, Northern Red Sea. Sunk by German bomber planes in World War II ^^^and has lain at...

Rick Tomlinson / Guests on board superyacht "Adele" enjoy the view from the crow's nest, which can be hoisted and lowered by a hydraulic captive winch. It reaches 40 metres above the waterline. ^^^ Adele is 180 foot...

Rick Tomlinson / Passengers on board Superyacht "Adele" can enjoy the view from the crow's nest, which can be hoisted and lowered by a hydraulic captive winch. It reaches 40 metres above the waterline. ^^^ Adele is...

Rick Tomlinson / Valentia, Ireland all weather lifeboat moves through heavy seas. Largest of the fleet and designed to lie afloat. ^^^ She carries a Y class inflatable which can be launched and recovered by a lightwei...

Rick Tomlinson / The Yarmouth, IOW Lifeboat powers through the waves in the Solent, the crew can be clearly seen on deck. ^^^ The largest of the fleet and designed to lie afloat. She carries a Y class inflatable which...

Rick Tomlinson / Crew winch in the sails on the coffee grinders following a sail change on the "The Card" during the Whitbread Round the World Race, 1989-90.

Onne van der Wal / Winch grinders working at full speed in the cockpit, America's Cup.

Onne van der Wal / Winch grinders working at full speed in the cockpit, America's Cup.

Onne van der Wal / Winch and teak deck detail on the heeling 152ft schooner "Windrose" at Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, Caribbean 2004.

Onne van der Wal / A fishermen pulling up traps on a winch, Newport, Rhode Island, USA.

Onne van der Wal / Open foredeck hatch and winch are on luxurious 140ft superyacht "Rebecca".

Onne van der Wal / Detail of a winch and lines onboard 140ft luxury schooner "Skylge", designed by André Hoek and built by Holland Jachtbouw, sailing in the French Riviera, France. Property released.

Rick Tomlinson / Crew member in the crow's nest on 180ft Superyacht "Adele", Norway. It can be hoisted and lowered by a hydraulic captive winch and reaches 40 metres above the waterline.^^^ Adele is 180 foot Andre Ho...

Laurent Geslin / Machine being operated to take gravel at the bottom of Lake Leman, Grangettes, Switzerland, Europe. February 2008.

Laurent Geslin / Machine being operated to take gravel at the bottom of Lake Leman, Grangettes, Switzerland, Europe. February 2008.

Erwan Quéméré / Close-up of winch aboard a race yacht.