Sailboat Rigging Basics

General Rigging, Masts & Spars, Furlers, Sails

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 19:55:22 GMT

Fitted Up for Smooth Sailing with the Right Rigging

The word rigging is used in more than one way in the boating world. One way refers to setting up a boat or something on the boat for use. You have probably heard a number of people say, “I’m rigging my boat for night cruising,” or “I’m rigging my electronics so they pull power from a dedicated battery.” A second use of the word is the nautical term used with sailboats. Sailboat rigging is all the wires, lines, rods, rope and supporting structures and equipment. It is mostly used in reference to controlling sails on sailboats, but if you’re one of the people with a very large power boat (shall we say “yacht”), you may have rigging for other purposes, like lowering a lifeboat or a tender used for fishing.

Ready About: All in a Word

Rigging is a generic word that covers a wide range of lines and equipment. For purposes of discussion, rigging used here does mean all the ropes, wires and lines and supporting items and structures on sailboats, including the mast, boom, stays, shrouds and sails. In other words, rigging is the boat’s power system because without it, your sails aren’t going to do much except flap in the wind while the sailboat sits at the dock. That’s no fun!

One of the interesting aspects of sailing is that it has its own jargon. Actually, it is almost like a different language. So let’s “Ready About” and get to work learning a few (not nearly all) of them for better understanding rigging. Following are some of the most common terms used in sailing.

First, keep these two inclusive terms in mind:

Standing rigging - fixed tension shrouds (forestay, backstay, cap shrouds, etc.) and stays that support the mast and bowsprit; includes terminals and turnbuckles; standing rigging is not acted upon when navigating (think of it as “in place and always on duty”
Running rigging – lines used to trim the sails (change the sail shape and direction to fit the wind circumstances); includes halyards, downhaul, sheets, mooring ropes, etc.

Just these two descriptions provide a glimpse into the unique vocabulary of sailing. You can’t write a definition without using words that also need definition! However, you can’t really talk seriously about rigging unless there is a general understanding of the most common terms. The different types of lines are described in a following section.

Architectural rigging – rigging that is not sail related, like cable and tensioners for a railing system
Boom – the pole (called a spar) that runs along the bottom of the sail so the sailor can control the sail’s position
Forestay – like a backstay, it is line that is a piece of the standing rigging but runs from the upper mast to the boat’s bow as opposed to the stern; helps to keep the mast upright and makes it possible to pull the mast forward; the most forward stay on the sailboat is also called a headstay
Headstay – most forward stay on the boat
Jib – triangular staysail that is set forward of the forwardmost mast; provides more sail area so it can catch the wind; when the jib is large and overlaps the mast, it is called a genoa
Leech – back (aft) edge of a fore-and-aft sail
Luff – leading edge of a fore-and-aft sail
Luffing – sailboat is steered far enough windward or the sheet controlling the sail is far past optimal trim and the sail begins to flap
Mast – the tall, upright spar or post that rises above the hull from the deck or keel and carries the sail, rigging, spars, booms, etc. (Find service for masts and spars here.)
Headsail – any sail located forward of the mast
Mainsail – sail raised from the only (main) mast of a sailboat; may refer to the largest and lowest sail on the main mast on a square-rigged vessel or the largest and lowest sail on a fore-and-aft sailboat and is controlled by a boom (spar)
Roller furling – a style of storing a sail by rolling the jib around the headstay or rolling the mainsail around the boom or the mast. (Find service for furlers here.)
Line – you know what rope is, but for rigging, it usually refers to a line that is at least one-inch in size
Runners – adjustable stays used to control tension on the mast; also called running backstays
Spar – any pole used to support rigging which includes booms, masts, spinnaker poles and any others
Spinnaker – lightweight sail used for running or when the wind is coming from the sailboat at an angle (broad reach)
Spreaders – small spars that extend toward the sides from one or multiple places along the mast; shrouds cross spreader ends to assist the shroud with mast support
Staysail – fore-and-aft rigged triangular sail set forward of the mast (like a jib) and aft of the headstay
Turnbuckle – a stretching screw; device has two threaded eye bolts with screws at each end of a frame holding the eye bolts together; used to adjust the tension on a line
Vang – hydraulic ram or block and tackle that holds the end of the boom down

So many terms, and this is just the beginning. But when you set sail, it’s the rigging that makes it possible to hoist and control the sails and poles and control the boat.

How is Rigging Used?

As you can tell from the definitions, rigging and supporting equipment and supplies need to perform a myriad of duties. The mix of lines on a sailboat look complicated to motor boaters who turn a key or press a button to start their boat engine. Sailboats are arguably more complicated than powerboats in design because factors like placement of the mast pole (e.g. deck-stepped vs keel-stepped) and sail setup make the difference in the boat’s durability and maneuverability in all types of weather and water conditions.

These design features also directly impact the type of rigging needed and optimal rigging configuration. For example, a basic one spreader rig has a mast, spreaders, lower and upper shrouds, forestay and backstay. A line can tighten an upper shroud to pull the mast in the desired direction, i.e. mast towards the shroud while adding a bend in the mast at the spreader with the bend going in the opposite direction. Rigging enables the sailboater to tack or head upwind by keeping the sails full or jibe to head downwind.

Types of Sailboats

A square-rigger sailboat is one in which the sails are held on horizontal spars which are square (perpendicular) to the boat's keel. It requires a different rigging setup compared to a full-rigged sailing vessel which has three or more masts. Today, the sloop rig has become a popular economical recreational sailboat because it has a single mast and a fore and aft sail. It requires fewer wires or simpler standing rigging than a sailboat with more than one mast. There are many types of sailboat designs seen on lakes and coastlines though, and each requires a different rigging setup. Besides the sloop, they include:

Cutter rig– single mast rigged fore and aft with a mainsail and at least two headsails: yankee (forward sail) and staysail (slightly back sail)
Ketch rig – usually a 40-foot or larger sailboat, it has two masts which are the main mast and a mizzenmast (smaller than main mast) which is stepped forward of the rudder post; has fore-and-aft (jib) mainsail setup like a sloop
Yawl rig – similar to a ketch, it has a main and mizzen masts, but the mizzenmast is set behind the rudder post
Gaff rig – has a spar (gaff) on top of the sail with other sails positioned with mainsail that has the gaff; on smaller gaff rigs, a third small triangular sail may be fitted between the mainsail and the mast and is called a topsail; a gaff sail is a four-sided sail instead of a triangular mainsail
Cat rig – has a single mast set well forward and has one sail, usually gaff-rigged, and no standing rigging
Junk rig – though some have a single sail, many of the newer junk rigs have multiple masts of equal size and the sails are fully battened (sail batten is a flexible thin sail insert placed horizontally
Wingsail rig – has rigid wing (sail) much like an airplane wing with flaps (trailing element); angle between the forward and trailing elements is called camber; has unstayed mast meaning it’s not supported by stays
Schooner rig – sailboat with (at least) two masts with the foremast shorter than the main mast (most are older boats now and usually seen in events like boat parades)

Positioning the Sailboat

Tacking and jibing are just two actions in which a sailor uses lines to shift sail positions. The boat’s positioning depends on what are called points of sail – close hauled, close reach, beam reach, broad reach and running, each requiring the skilled manipulation of the lines. When the wind pushes on the wrong side of the sail, you are backwinded. The lines holding the sail in place are released to correct the situation. Rigging is how the sailor keeps control of the sailboat no matter how the boat is positioned to the wind.

The rigging is also crucial to boater safety. An accidental jibe is one of the worst events a sailboat may experience. The wind shifts, a sudden wave hits or the boat is steered such that the boat is turned downwind and across the wind (turning across the eye of the wind). This can cause the main boom to suddenly and violently swing to the other side of the boat. Such force can dismast a boat, hurt crew members or cause one boat to crash into another, if close together.

Jibing is certainly likely to stress the rigging and sails. Dismasting is often due to breaking a shroud or stay. According to sailboat racer Tim Powell, there are ways to avoid an accidental jibe, like moving crew weight around, but the best bet for recovery depends on masterful use of rigging. For example, you can drop a spinnaker pole forward a bit between the headstay and shrouds to rebalance the boat or pull the mainsail in while windward and reopening it when upright.

Rigging can also prevent accidental jibes. A line called a “preventer” can be tied to the boom and a stanchion forward of the mast. Some people install a permanent preventer, which are lines that run from the boom on both sides, running forward to blocks at the rail and then running back to the cockpit. The preventer stops the boom from violently swinging across the boat.

Battling the Wind with Rigging

Let’s face it – sailing is really about battling the wind. The shrouds and stays fight to keep everything in place, and the sailor controls the lines at all times. Cordage, the ropes and cords in the sailboat’s rigging, also deliver the most challenging entertainment.

There are so many different lines on a sailboat, and like everything else on the sailboat, there are unique names given to the various lines, cords and wires. The following list is not complete but gives a good idea of the various types of rigging lines.

Backstay – piece of the standing rigging; line (usually stainless steel) that runs from the upper mast to the transom or rear quarter (stern) to counteract the forestay and jib; used for sail trim (depowering) control and can change the shape of the mainsail and headsail
Breast line – laterally attached line from the boat to dock that stops the boat from moving away
Downhaul – rigging line that applies downward force on a sail or spar; usually found on a spinnaker pole
Guy (aka brace) – line attached to the end of a spar for purposes of control
Halyard – line that hoists a sail and affects the shape of the sail; originally made of hemp or manila rope but today usually made of polyester
Jack line or jack stay – strong line of flat webbing or a wire stay running along the sides of a boat and is used for attaching a safety harness; same as a lifeline
Lacing – line used to attach a sail to a spar
Lanyard – line attached to a tool
Lazy guy – line attached to the boom to prevent accidental jibbing
Lazy jacks – lines running from above the main sail to the boom to assist with lowering the sail.
Lazy sheet - line leading to a sail but not currently in use; line in use is a working sheet; lines change when tacking
Leech line – line to tighten the leech (aft edge of a fore and aft sail) of a sail to create the right sail shape
Luff rope – bolt rope in the luff of a sail and used to attach the sail to the mast
Mainsheet – line that controls the mainsail
Marline – small line used for whipping and lashing
Messenger – small line used to pull a cable or heavier line
Mooring line – line used to secure a boat to a dock, anchor or mooring
Outhaul – line used to create tension in the foot of a sail and create and maintain desired sail shape
Pendant – small line attached to a mooring chain
Preventer – line run forward from the boom to a secure fitting to prevent the boom from accidentally jibing while running
Ratlines – small lines tied between shrouds that crew members use as a ladder when climbing aloft
Reefing line – lines used to pull the reef in a sail (reef means to partially lower a sail)
Sheet – line attached to the clew of the sail and is used to control the sail’s trim
Shroud or stay – lines that are part of the standing rigging that have the job of supporting the mast from side to side; usually run from the top of the mast to the boat’s side but there may be shrouds connected partway down the mast
Small stuff – small lines used when serving and whipping
Spring line – docking lines that are meant to keep the boat from moving while docked
Stays – lines fore (forestay) and aft (backstay) that run from the top of the mast to keep it upright and to carry sails; part of the standing rigging that supports the mast; heavy wires, rods or ropes
Stern line – line running from the boat’s stern while moored to a dock
Bow line – line running from the boat’s bow while moored to a dock
Topping lift – line running from the top of the mast to the boom and prevents the boom from failing when the sail is not set
Trip line – line attached to an anchor end to help free it from the ground
Vang – rope extending from the peak of a gaff to a rail or mast in order to steady the faff; a boom vang is a line or piston system used to exert downward force on the boom to control the shape of the sail