During the heyday of sailing shipbuilding, ships had a rather complex equipment called rigging, which was necessary to control the above deck equipment. A great deal of skill was required of sailors to handle these tackle, which consisted mainly of cables and chains. According to its purpose and fastening characteristics, the rigging of any sailing vessel is divided into standing and running.
What is rigging
Rigging means all kinds of equipment that is required to fasten the structural elements of a sailing vessel. Some parts of the rigging are necessary for stable holding in the desired position of the mast and parts of the mast, without others it is impossible to set and remove the sails, as well as to effectively manage them. The first type of rigging is traditionally called standing, the second - running.
One of the obligatory elements of the ship's activities of the crew of a sailboat is rigging. This includes the setting in place of the elements of the spars and mast equipment, its rigging, as well as the direct installation of rigging equipment.
Most often, rigging work includes all kinds of operations with cables and nets woven from ropes.
Standing rigging
Standing rigging, which ensures a stable position of the above-deck parts of a ship or sailing yacht, usually includes metal cables, covered with a top layer of zinc, which protects the tackle from corrosion. Through such a system, traction is transmitted from the sails to the hull of the sailboat. For this reason, this type of rigging is highly durable, resistant to deformation and lasts a long time.
The most common type of standing rigging is cables, by means of which the mast is held in the front, rear and lateral direction.
In the rigging of small vessels, resinous synthetic ropes or hemp ropes are often used. Large sailing ships have massive structural elements that can only be held in a stationary position with the help of tensioned and fixed chains. These chains usually have shortened links that make them more flexible.
Running rigging
A number of works on the ship have to be performed using running rigging. It usually includes cables of various thicknesses, which are necessary for lifting heavy objects to a height. With this dynamic and flexible rigging, the crew manages the sails and individual spars.
The running rigging is also used for giving various marine signals.
The main difference between running and standing rigging is its mobility. The rigging of the running rigging is firmly attached at one end to the object to be controlled. The free end of the cable is thrown over a block or even through a system of blocks, and then only temporarily fixed in a given place. Pulling out sails and other items, choosing an extra length of cables or, conversely, etching them out is the function of the running rigging.
