- Early
American
Sailing
Ships
- By
Jerry
Wilkinson
- -
- Size
contributes
much
in
determining
a
class
for
a
ship,
but
the
configuration
of
the
masts,
sails
and
rigging
is
also
important.
Below
are
some
of
the
early
American
sailing
ships,
but
are
to
to
be
used
only
as
a
basic
guide.
All
the
silhouettes
drawings
were
done
by
Charles
G.
Davis.
JW
- -
- The
sloop
is
a
one-masted
sailing
vessel
and
can
be
very
small
or
quite
large.
The
mainsail
can
be
a
triangle
or
gaff
(the
above)
cut
sail.
When
sails
are
supported
from
a
vertical
mast
it
is
said
to
be
"fore
and
aft
rigged."
When
the
sail
is
hung
from
a
horizontal
"spar"
attached
in
its
center
to
the
mast
it
is
"square"
rigged
and
the
sail
is
called
a
"yard."
The
sloop
has
no
spars
or
yards
and
is
fore
and
aft
rigged.
There
is
no
limit
to
the
number
of
jib
sails,
but
two
is
normally
the
limit.
The
configuration
of
jibs
usually
does
not
alter
the
classification
of
a
vessel.
As
there
is
only
one
mast,
the
size
of
the
hull
is
limited
to
the
size
of
of
the
mainsail.
The
top
of
a
sail
is
the
"head"
and
the
bottom
is
the
"foot."
Technically
all
masts,
booms,
gaffs,
etc.
can
be
called
spars.
- -
- A
barkentine
has
at
least
three-masts
and
is
rigged
with
square
sails
(yards
hung
on
horizontal
spars)
on
the
foremast.
The
mainmast
and
the
mizzenmast
are
fore
and
aft
rigged.
Usually
the
third
mast
(after)
is
called
the
mizzenmast.
(Yawls
and
ketches
are
the
exception.)
If
the
mainmast
is
square
rigged
also
it
becomes
a
"bark."
- Masts
(vertical
spars)
are
named
from
bow
to
stern
and
usually
called:
foremast,
mainmast,
mizzzenmast,
jiggermast
and
spankermast.
- -
- This
is
one
of
the
two
masted
ships.
The
foremast
is
square
rigged,
but
note
the
mainmast.
The
mainsail
is
fore
and
aft
rigged
and
the
top
sails
(yards)
are
square
rigged.
If
there
are
three
main
yards
it
is
a
topgallantsail.
- -
- Multiple
masted
sailing
vessels
that
are
"fore
and
aft"
rigged
are
schooners.
The
most
masts
ever
used
were
seven.
- A
variation
of
the
schooner
is
the
topsail
schooner.
The
foremast
and
rigging
is
the
same
as
the
mainmast
of
a
brigantine.
- -
- Another
combination
is
to
use
the
foremast
of
a
brig
(yards)
and
the
mainmast
(fore
and
aft)
of
a
schooner.
This
half
brig
-
half
schooner
requires
less
crew
to
operate.
- -
- A
bark
has
square
rigged
sails
on
the
foremast
and
mainmast,
and
the
mizzenmast
is
fore
and
aft
rigged.
An
additional
square
rigged
mast
(a
total
of
four)
was
common.
- -
- This
is
a
two
masted
square
rigged
vessel
with
a
"standing"
gaff
on
the
mainmast
from
which
a
single
fore
and
aft
sail
is
rigged.
This
sail
is
sometimes
called
the
"spanker."
There
are
variations
and
the
above
is
the
full-rigged
brig.
- -
- The
term
"ship"
is
used
loosely
and
applied
quite
generally
to
all
vessels
regardless
of
size,
rig
or
power.
The
proper
use
is
for
a
full-rigged
vessel
of
a
minimum
of
three
masts
and
mostly
square
rigged.
-
For
a
companion
page
of
Early
Spanish
Sailing
Vessels,
Click
HERE.
