Sail Handling Theory: Square Sails 2

[@bravy5102]

This video made my day. Great explanation.

[@Fezezen]

I would love a follow-up video on headsails, staysails and gaff.

[@lolli_popples]

Are the 3rd and 4th videos on KZbin? I don’t see them on this channel.

[@MoneyPitBoating]

On a single square sail mast, does the yard just flop around on the mast?

[@BillConk]

On an "old-style" ship with a single yard, the lowered yard will likely have been turned or pivoted on the mast so it is more-or-less in line with the keel of the ship, and secured to the ship at one end. A big sail meant a long yard, so it would make manoeuvring and stability difficult if it were left square across the ship. On the ship described in the video, the lowered yard is held horizontal by a pair of "lifts". These are two cables that extend from the mast above the yard, down to the end of the yard on each side. So, you can picture the yard being the base of two right-angled triangles, with the mast in the centre being the vertical side of both, and each lift is a hypotenuse. In both cases, the raised yard is held at the required angle by a pair of lines called braces, one from each end of the yard leading down to the deck.

[@don5176]

What a great explanation of square sail handling, and thanks. It’s too bad his follow-up videos aren’t available.