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Rigging (Anglo-Saxon wrigan or wrihan, to clothe) denotes how a boat is outfitted. For sailing ships, rigging refers to all apparatuses by or through which the force of the wind is transferred to boat in order to propel the boat forward This includes the spars (both masts and yards), the sails and the cordage.
Rigging is also used to describe how a rowing boat is outfitted (see generally rowing terms).
- ''See also sail-plan, sailing ship, and shipbuilding
Important Terms and Classifications
Rigging is the mechanical sailing apparatus attached to the hull in order to move the boat as a whole. This includes cordage (ropes attached to the spars and sails in order to manipulate their position and shape), sails (airfoils, usually made of fabric, used to catch the wind), and spars (masts and other solid objects sails are attached to). Cordage is commonly referred to as rigging, and although technically erroneous by some standards, it is accepted usage. In this article, rigging is used to denote the full set of cordage, sails and spars, except when it is part of another term (see running rigging and standing rigging).
Certain sail-plans are utilized for certain purposes according to their aerodynamic properties. All sailing vessels are classified according to their hull design and rigging.
The Parts of Rigging
Cordage
The term cordage refers to the ropes, called lines, which are used to connect and manipulate sails. Cordage is attached to the spars and sometimes the sails by systems of metal pulleys and clips. The materials chosen for cordage are determined by the strength and weight of the rope. Cordage is divided into two types: running rigging and standing rigging.Standing rigging is cordage which is fixed in position. Standing rigging is almost always between a mast and the deck, using tension to hold the mast firmly in place. Due to its role, standing rigging is now most commonly made of steel cable. It was historically made of the same materials as running rigging, only coated in tar for added strength and protection from the elements.
Running rigging is the cordage used to control the shape and position of the sails. Running rigging must be flexible in order to allow smooth movement of the spars and sails, but strong enough for the role it plays. For instance, a halyard, used to hoist heavy yards up and down, must be very strong and durable. A sheet, used to control the orientation of a triangular sail, must be very flexible and smooth, and need only be strong enough to support the tension caused by the wind.
Sails
Sails are fabric airfoils designed to catch the wind and manipulate the air currents surrounding the vessel. They are attached to spars and cordage with metal clips. Sails are generally rectangular or triangular in shape, which determines their use and placement. Rectangular sails are attached to yards, and hang perpendicular to the keel line; as such, they are "square" to the keel line, and are referred to as square sails. Triangular sails are, at rest, generally in line to the keel line, but while in use can be at a wide variety of angles to the mast. Sail material must be durable against weather, lightweight, and non-porous. Common materials include kevlar, dacron, and canvas.Sails are classified according to their shape and location. The name of a sail on a complex boat with multiple masts can be inferred with the following syntax: mast's name, vertical position, sail. From bottom to top, the positions are named lower, top, and topgallant. For instance, the sail midway up on the mizzen-mast is called the mizzen topsail. The highest sail on the fore-mast is called the fore topgallant sail. If a sail is of a specialized nature, such as being attached to a stay, its specialized name may be used in lieu of "sail".
The most common sails are the mainsail, the largest sail attached to the main-mast, and the jib, which is attached to the bowsprit.
More detailed information on sail nomenclature and use can be found in sails.
Spars
Spars are solid beams used to stabilize and manipulate sails. Masts, yards, booms, gaffs and battens are the most commonly encountered spars. Spars are attached to the sails by systems of clips and cordage designed to allow an appropriate range of motion while maintaining the aerodynamic properties of the sails. Spars can be made of any sufficiently strong material. Flexibility and weight are primary concerns for materials; ideally, spars would be sufficiently rigid to maintain control over the shape of the sail, as well as lightweight in order to maintain a low and stable center of balance. Commonly used materials include wood, steel, aluminum and fiberglass.Masts are spars firmly attached to the deck of the ship. They are the main support for most sails, and all but the most speculative sailboats have at least one, generally set along the keel line. The classification of a mast is determined by its position, size and use.
A ship's vertical masts are named, from bow to stern, the fore-mast, the main-mast, the mizzen-mast and the jigger-mast. There may also be a bowsprit, which extends forward past the bow.
Masts carrying rectangular or square sails have horizontal yards to stabilize the top and bottom edges of the sails. These yards can rotate around the mast, allowing the sails to be oriented horizontally, usually up to 45 degrees from perpendicular to the keel line. Some yards can be tilted vertically. Cordage associated with yards includes clew lines, bunt lines, the halyard, and lifts.
Masts carrying triangular sails have a horizontal boom to stabilize the foot of the sail. It is connected to the base of the mast at the gooseneck, a device designed to allow the boom to pivot about the mast. Cordage associated with booms includes the outhaul, the sheet, the boomvang, and the traveller.
Gaffs and battens are spars attached to the mast in a similar manner to the boom, but hinge vertically. Gaffs are used to "joint" sails, allowing for two smaller sails (one above the gaff and one below) rather than one large, triangular sail. Battens are flexible gaffs included within the sail, and are found most notably in Chinese junks. Cordage associated with gaffs and battens includes halyards and the gunter line.
Authorities
Recommended recent works include James Lees, The Masting and Rigging of English Ships of War, 1625-1860 (Naval Institute Press, 1984), and John Harland, Seamanship in the Age of Sail (Naval Institute Press, 1984).
Note
This article is about the rigging of ships, and is based on the detailed article in the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, now in the public domain. For a more concise treatment, see mast (sailing), full rigged ship and sail. For other uses, see rigging (disambiguation).
References
External Links
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"Rigging"