Abstract: This invention relates to a three-speed winch, particularly for nautical use, of the kind having a drum around which a sheet or rope can be wound and which is rotatable by means of the operation of a hand-crank having a pin portion which is inserted axially in the winch to rotate a drive shaft, said winch having a fixed recessed casing encircled by the drum, one end of the casing being provided with fixing means projecting from one end of the drum and the other end of the casing being provided with a rotatable annular member mounted thereon which meshes with the drum through a free wheel gear and arranged to drive the drum always in the same direction of rotation by differently combinable gears contained in the casing whatever the direction of rotation of the operating hand-crank.