New to the Age of Sails, here is a simple guide to mast and sails

[Cmmdre]

Very helpful and concise. Thank you for the valuable information you have posted sir.

[CHolgren]

Not sure why, but I'm not able to see the rigging gif/jpg. I anyone else having that problem? Thank you for the material.

I agree Keith, growing up in the rockies made it difficult to be anything but a landsman.

[JAG]

Hi..great job! For some reason the first several photos are not showing for me either..is the link broken on them? I am on my home computer and I have tried it with a couple different browsers with the same result.

Thanks...

[Avi]

All clear here - could it be just timing out on the pictures?

[JAG]

Ok..well it's working now so not sure what was going on before..thanks

[CHolgren]

I've tried three different machines and still can't see the rigging. Any idea where the figures came from or alternate sites with this information? Thanks for any help.

[The Royal Hajj]

Check them again now please.

[CHolgren]

Check them again now please.

Keith they were there the very first time I glanced at them, but then they disappeared for me. Sorry about the hassle, but they are back, thank you.

[BillyRuffin]

Found this very informative. About to start (attempt!!) rigging some ships that I completed from Langtons, so fingers crossed and thank you.

[VonTed]

Nice! Need this is a PDF :)

[KeithS]

Do you have anything similar on ship types? I've been trying to read up on them but the information seems a bit contradictory. I'm OK on rated ships but the classifications of smaller ships (sloops, brigs, brigantines, cutters, etc.) is a little confusing I've seen classifications based on mast number, square or fore & aft sails, and rank of the captain.

[The Royal Hajj]

Sorry, no. I don't even have a firm grasp on ship types and classes.

[David Manley]

Here's a start. I'm sure I have seen a better one too



Obviously some of these are rather more modern than we are considering in SGN. And there are myriad types not covered here (no Snows or Prams for starters )

[Coog]

The term sloop can be confusing. This link has some of the information you want and some links for more descriptions that may help you understand the type of sloops referred to on this site:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sloop-of-war

Here are some other links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brig

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigantine

[KeithS]

Thanks, these are helpful.

[Nightbomber]

Thanks Chief for posting all the info. As a man of the air, not sea, this is VERY helpful, especially as far as English terms are concerned

[Пилот]

For some reason I never visited this topic before - and the topic is a must! Thanks, Keith, for sharing it!

[Zedzeke]

Caramba, great work, i will try to rig up my first ships, ok, lets go, thanks for the nice plan ;-)

[Haggisblower]

Thinking I've got some homework to do. An excellent start, thanks for posting

[Mahan]

Thanks for this information!

I know the names in Swedish but not in English due these sailor terms was not really in the lectures of my English classes back in school. Wonder why? But this will really help me out in future reading and writing about sailing ships.

[Loki 13]

That's a lot to remember, thanks.

[Jason]

Wow. Having all this in one place is a blessing, although English terms are are pretty logical and meaningful. Learning them in Polish when I started sailing was a nightmare, because as for sailing dictionary we have a mix of polonized English, Dutch an German words with no logic behind it whatsoever. Now the problem is that I read AOS books sometimes in Polish and sometimes in English and it all gets confusing. :)

[Bligh]

Very useful information thanks.
Rob.

[7eat51]

Just moved to The Chippy Shop. It is a sticky, so it can be found easily by looking at the top of the forum.

[Mycenius]

Also, I always thought the main reason for "fighting sails" was to keep the main and formast courses from catching on fire from the blast and burning powder spray of their own cannons.

Yep!

[garchilajr]

Thank you! Where did you find these references, if you don't mind my asking?

[Bligh]

Having had recourse to this thread yet again, I felt that it was high time Keith got some Kudos for putting it together.
Bligh.

[The Royal Hajj]

Thank you! Where did you find these references, if you don't mind my asking?

Honestly, I don't remember. It was someplace off the internet though via Google search.

Having had recourse to this thread yet again, I felt that it was high time Keith got some Kudos for putting it together.
Bligh.

Thanks Rob!

[capncarp]

Too...much...information.
Brain...bursting.
Surgeon, get the trephine, we'll make a vent-hole!
Most excellent, very well done.
That could make a salt out of a lubber in no time.

BTW, I have found two books to be eminently helpful in understanding the age of sail in both the historical and the functional senses.
Ships and Seamen of the American Revolution, by Jack Coggins
Pirates and Patriots of the Revolution by C. Keith Wilbur
Both fully hand-illustrated, crammed with details of the function, structure, and backstory of how sailing ships were built, operated, and fought. Lots of juicy tid-bits of lore thrown in, to boot.

[KDz]

Very good post, a lot of valuable information

[Tomrcast]

In plain or battle sail are the stays and jib normally taken down? The graphic seems to suggest it. The models always have them.

[Dobbs]

In plain or battle sail are the stays and jib normally taken down? The graphic seems to suggest it. The models always have them.

The headsails played an important roll in turning through the wind. Same with the spanker. However, most of the models have spritsails, and by this period it was a sail that was rarely used. Most period illustrations show the spritsail spar bare. To that end, I have removed the spritsails from my models and replaced them with a tiny bit of carbon fiber rod ( and added rod on the frigates that didn't have any and the British 1st rates).

[Tomrcast]

So forgive my ignorance but the head sails are the jib and stay sails in the diagram? And they should remain up in fighting sail?

[Dobbs]

So forgive my ignorance but the head sails are the jib and stay sails in the diagram? And they should remain up in fighting sail?

Yes, those are the headsails. It is my understanding that the typical fighting sail configuration was topsails, maybe t'gallants, and headsails and spanker. The idea was maximum maneuverability with minimum crew handling.

Nelson went for all sail (I think including stuns'ls) at Trafalgar to break the combined fleet's line as fast as possible in light air.

[Killick]

I have read Patrick O'Brian's books twice and I have only just learnt what "Broached" means.

[Killick]

Thanks Keith for your thread very helpful

[Bligh]

I have read Patrick O'Brian's books twice and I have only just learnt what "Broached" means.

You can't have drunk many casks of Old Jamaica rum in your time then Alistair.
Bligh.

[Killick]

I was stationed Belize an old British colony and could not drink rum the way the locals did "white local rum and condensed milk"

[ArkansasChuck]

This is a fantastic guide! A ton of information I needed! I love the diagrams. So simple my kids will be able to learn about the ship sections and correct names!

Thank you all for sharing this. Excellent info.

[Mr_Zorro]

Extraordinary job! keep up the good work