belaying points.
Note:
Some belaying points for the
lower staysail sheets were not identi-
fied on Mystic’s drawings.
Consequently, Model Shipways’ plans
reflect an educated guess.
3. Spanker and Gaff Topsail
Set up the gaff and boom topping lifts,
then hook the gaff and boom to the
mast eyebolts. Rig the spanker first. If a
sail is installed, rig the brails. If no sails
are used, knot the brails at their blocks
on the mizzenmast, or omit them.
If showing a furled spanker, furl it
against the mast and partway on the
gaff with brails pulled tight.
Boom sheets will pull everything tight.
If they pull the boom too low, adjust the
length of the gaff topping lift chain or
boom topping lift.
The gaff topsail is furled against the
mast doublings almost in a bundle. Use
a small piece of cloth for the furled sail.
On a real ship, the bundled sail is not
that bulky. With no sail, the mast hoops
simply stack on the mast. Figure 9-2
illustrates some rigging possibilities
with sails removed.
4. Fore and Main Yards
Secure the yard truss and add the chain
sling. Add the yard lifts next. The plans
illustrate the lower yards with a course
in place. If no sails are used, here are
some options. Knot leechlines and bunt-
lines at the thimble fairleads, or omit-
ted. With the sheet, pull the clew garnet
block at the tack up to the block on the
mast, then remove the tack. Or, hook
the sheet and tack to the clew garnet,
then hoist the yard (Figure 9-3). In this
case, sheet and tack drape along the
hull over the shrouds.
Although the braces can be added now,
waiting until last is better, since they may
get in the way when rigging other yards.
5. Mizzen Crossjack Yard
The mizzen crossjack yard has no sail. It
simply provides a place for the main
yard braces. Set the yard with its parrel,
sling, and lift. The lift is a fixed one,
secured at the masthead by a lanyard
(Figure 9-4). Steady the yard by adding
the port and starboard guys.
6. Fore and Main Upper and
Lower Topsail Yards
36
Fig. 9-1 Jib Rigging Without Sail
Fig. 9-2 Spanker & Gaff Topsail Rig with Sails Removed
Halliard
Downhaul
Halliard
Gaff topsail and downhaul
removed. Hook halliard and
outhaul at cap could also
include tack line going to
belay point
Outhaul
Topping lift
Topping lift
Wood hoops
stacked
Sheets
Outhaul and inhaul hooked together,
or omit inhaul and secure outhaul on
top of boom
Spanker head outhaul and
downhaul hooked together
Brails stopped
off at block or
omitted
