28o : The Atlantic 



closely related to the use of the fore-and-aft sail as a component of 

 the rig of the vessel. 



The above sentences seek to state a complicated matter simply but 

 exactly. They recognize that in general there are two broad classes 

 of sailing vessel. The first class is those we call "square-riggers" 

 which are chiefly driven by square or quadrilateral areas of canvas, 

 hung from yards. The yards in turn are hung from the mast in such 

 a way that they usually form a right angle with the mast and also a 

 right angle with the center line of the ship. 



In this class the yards are hung and rigged so that they may be 

 swung about to some degree and thus the yards and the sails they 

 carry may be made to diminish the angle between themselves and the 

 center line of the ship from bow to stern. Owing to the rigging 

 which is necessary to support the mast and to other factors, there is 

 a strict limit to the amount of this movement. The sails and yards 

 are most out of their normal position when the angle above referred 

 to is reduced. 



The second general class is that of the "fore-and-aft" vessels. Here 

 the chief sails are stretched between the lower spar, called the boom, 

 and the upper or raised spar called the gaff, the inner or forward 

 ends of which are attached to the mast. The forward edge or lufE 

 end of the sail is likewise held to the mast by hoops or other devices. 



In this case the booms and gaffs and the sails stretched between 

 them are in their most normal and natural position when they lie 

 along the center line of the vessel from bow to stern or form a slight 

 angle with it. They are rigged so that they are free to move in an 

 arc so that the force of wind coming from aft may carry them out 

 so that they may, more or less, increase the angle with the center 

 line and approach the normal setting of a square sail, but in this case 

 they are farthest from their natural position. 



There are other types of sail called staysails which are set on ropes 

 or wires which run from one mast to another or from the mast to 

 the bowsprit or to some other part of the vessel. Sails that are set in 

 the very forward part of the vessel on stays that run between the 

 foremast and the stem of the vessel or the fore-topmast and the bow- 

 sprit, bear the special name of jibs. For general purposes, the jibs be- 

 long to the class of staysail. From what has been said above, it will 

 be evident that jibs and staysails may be chiefly classified as fore-and- 

 aft sails. 



The chief characteristic and value of the fore-and-aft vessel is that 

 she enjoys a superiority over the square-rigged vessel in working to 



