Rigging

The rigging of a square rigger in London.
Standing rigging on a fore-and-aft rigged sailboat.
Key: 1. Forestay 2. Shroud 3. (Spreaders) 4. Backstay 5. Inner forestay 6. Sidestay 7. (Boom) 8. Running backstays
Bermuda rigged sloop at Convict Bay, Bermuda, circa 1879
Standing rigging on a square-rigged vessel.
Running rigging on a sailing yacht:
1. Main sheet 2. Jib sheet 3. Boom vang 4. Downhaul 5. Jib halyard

Rigging comprises the system of ropes, cables and chains, which support and control a sailing ship or sail boat's masts and sails. Standing rigging is the fixed rigging that supports masts including shrouds and stays. Running rigging is rigging which adjusts the position of the vessel's sails and spars including halyards, braces, sheets and vangs.[1]

  1. ^ "Definition of rigging in English: rigging". en.oxforddictionaries.com. Oxford University Press. 2017. Archived from the original on September 29, 2016. Retrieved 2017-01-02. The system of ropes or chains employed to support a ship's masts (standing rigging) and to control or set the yards and sails (running rigging).