Sailing ship rigs

Discover the sails, skills, traditions and people that bring our ships to life.

Every day at sea, the sails go up because that is how the ship moves. The crew work the lines. The Captain reads the wind. The deck shifts under your feet as the canvas fills. This is the place to understand what is happening overhead, from the name of every sail to the knot that holds it. Start anywhere.

THE SHIP

Bowsprit

The long spar extending forward from the bow, supporting sails and rigging.

Bow

The forward end of the ship, designed to cut through the water.

Figurehead

A decorative carving traditionally placed near the bow.

Jibs

Triangular sails set forward of the first mast.

Foremast

The first main mast behind the bow.

Mainmast

The principal mast supporting large sails and yards.

Yards

Horizontal spars from which square sails are suspended.

Square sails

Large four-sided sails that capture the wind to propel the ship.

Standing rigging

The fixed ropes and cables supporting the masts.

Ratlines

Rope steps that allow crew to climb the rigging.

Deck

The main outdoor area where guests stroll and relax.

Lifeboats

Safety craft carried aboard the ship.

Hull

The main body of the ship, providing buoyancy and stability.

Stern

The rear of the vessel.

Mizzenmast

The third mast from the bow, supporting square sails that help harness the wind and drive the ship forward.

Jiggermast

The fourth mast, carrying additional sails that contribute to the ship’s impressive sailing power and balance.

Spankermast

The fifth and final mast, positioned towards the stern. Its sails help balance the ship and contribute to steering and manoeuvrability.

From Bowsprit to Stern

Every part has a name. Most of them are in plain sight.

Learn the parts of a tall ship before you step aboard.

Walk the deck of a tall ship and you are surrounded by her working parts. The bowsprit reaching out over the water. Masts rising overhead with yards crossing them. Standing rigging holding everything upright, and running rigging the crew haul on every day.

Move across the illustration and select any part to learn what it is called and what it does. By the time you step aboard, the deck will already feel familiar.

Sails and Sail Plans

Forty-two sails on one ship. Sixteen on the others. Every one with a job.

Every sail has a name and a purpose.

Choose a ship. Select a sail. See where it sits, how it is set and when it is called for.

Star Clipper and Star Flyer

Royal Clipper

The best way to learn a tall ship is to sail on one.

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