| When you learn the names of the standing and | | | | mainsail has to be reefed. |
| running rigging on a yacht, you also need to | | | | The only other controls of the main actually control |
| understand the function that each fulfils. With this | | | | the movement of the boom. One such control, the |
| knowledge, you will be better able to make the right | | | | boom vang, is described above. |
| decision when part of the rigging is damaged and | | | | When running, the boom is prevented from moving |
| strain has to be transferred or removed without | | | | up and down by a preventer (usually a four to one |
| delay. | | | | purchase which attaches to a shackle along the |
| Standing rigging | | | | boom) put in such a position that when the boom is |
| The forestay prevents the mast falling backwards, | | | | right out, the shackle is directly above the toe rail. |
| determines the amount of permanent rake that is | | | | The preventer then clips to another shackle, or a |
| built into the rig and holds the luff of the headsails. | | | | slot, at the toe rail and is pulled on hard to hold the |
| The backstay prevents the mast falling forward, pulls | | | | boom firm, and to prevent an accidental jibe. |
| the top of the mast backwards when under | | | | In some cases - usually when cruising - a foreguy |
| pressure, and tightens the forestay so that it does | | | | ,and/or an afterguy is rigged to stop a jibe. These |
| not sag to leeward under the weight of the headsail. | | | | consist of a line led from the end of the boom and |
| The shrouds support the mast laterally and, when | | | | cleated off either forward or aft. |
| properly tuned, hold the mast upright. They also | | | | The jib sheets control the headsails. On the wind |
| transmit the power of the sails to the hull through | | | | they are led through a track which is well inboard. Off |
| the chainplates. | | | | the wind they should be led through a block on the |
| The inner forestay , that is, the intermediate | | | | leeward rail. Control between these two positions is |
| forestay or babystay, controls the amount of bend | | | | achieved through the use of a barberhaul ,which pulls |
| put into the mast between the crane and the deck, | | | | the sheet inboard. |
| and is used to flatten the mainsail as wind increases. | | | | The spinnaker is controlled by a sheet and a brace |
| The runners (running backstays) , or checkstays, | | | | which are working and are called the sheet and brace |
| take the pumping action out of the mast and are | | | | (guy), but have attached another sheet and brace, |
| critical in preventing breakage. If properly set up they | | | | which are not working and so are called the lazy |
| will help prevent the onset of vibration. | | | | sheet and lazy brace (guy). The brace (guy) attaches |
| The boom vang really counts as a control, but I | | | | to the spinnaker at the outboard end of the |
| believe it has a function under standing rigging as well | | | | spinnaker pole, and the sheet at the opposite clew. |
| as running rigging in that it flattens the mainsail, pulls | | | | The lazy sheet is attached to the brace (guy) and |
| the boom down as well as pushing it forward, and so | | | | the lazy brace (guy) to the sheet. The reason for |
| affects the control of mast bend. | | | | the apparent doubling of the lines is that the lazy |
| Running rigging | | | | sheet and brace (guy) become the active controls |
| The halyards haul sails up the mast to their effective | | | | after a jibe. |
| positions and are then locked off on a cleat. The | | | | Another control of the spinnaker is the snotter - a |
| adjustment may be altered for light winds, by easing, | | | | whip or single open-sided block on the end of a line - |
| or for heavy winds, by tightening. | | | | which is hooked over the spinnaker sheet and/or |
| The mainsheet controls the mainsail, and is also the | | | | brace and led through another block on the deck |
| longest component of the running rigging, a factor to | | | | nearby, but in any case close to the spinnaker clew. |
| remember when putting together a jury rig. The | | | | When the line is tightened the sheet is hauled down |
| sheet is led through a car which can move up and | | | | tight, which prevents the death rolls. This system is |
| down a track, called the traveller. The car is eased | | | | used in heavy weather running. |
| down the traveller as the first method of relieving | | | | All other sails are controlled by a halyard and a sheet, |
| weather helm. When this is no longer sufficient, the | | | | in the usual way. |