RIGGING, (fee, 55 



The main-topmast stay* supports the topmast from forward, and runs 

 from the fore-top to the main-top-gallant cross-trees, 205 feet long, and 

 II inches thick. The niain-top-mast preventer-stay* runs over or under 

 the stay, and parallel with it. 



The main-top halliard is the rope which hoists the top-sail. The length 

 of this doubled rope is 2^ times the length of the ship (462^ feet). Ships 

 of less than 60 guns have only single top-sail halliards. 



The main-top-rope is a strong rope for raising or lowering the top-mast. 

 Its length is six times the ship's breadth (325 feet), and its thickness is half 

 an inch less than that of the shrouds. 



The main topsail lifts support the main-topsail-yard in a horizontal posi- 

 tion. Each of them is I^ times the length of the ship (273 feet). 



The main-topsail-braces {Jig. 1 '^) serve to turn the main-topsail-yard, 

 and are 1^ times the length of the ship (307-^ feet). 



The main- top -gallant shrouds* consists of two-fold ropes, but frequently, 

 as in the present case, without ratlines. 



The main-top-gallant stay* is one third larger than the main-top stay, 

 and runs from the cross-trees of the foremast to the middle of the top- 

 gallant mast. 



The main-top-gallant-sail halliard, to raise the top-gallant-sail, is I^ times 

 the length of the ship (307^ feet). 



The main-top- gallant lifts are each double in length to the ship's breadth, 

 and are rigged in the centre of the top-gallant mast. 



The main-top- gallant braces {Jig. I ^^) turn the top-gallant yards, and are 

 each 307|- feet long. 



The main-royal lifts are rigged under the truck of the topmast, and are 

 one third shorter than the top-gallant lifts, each of them 72 feet 2 inches in 

 length. 



The main-royal braces are of the same length as the top-gallant braces, 

 but not so thick by one fifth. They are seldom made use of, as the royal 

 turns at the same time with the top-gallant sail. 



The main guy is a strong rope passing from the head of the main- 

 mast to that of the foremast, supporting the main or hoisting tackle. Its 

 length is 1|- times the ship's breadth (81 feet 3 inches), and its thickness 

 II inches. There are also quarter tackles arranged in the same manner, 

 at each side of the mainmast and of the foremast. On each side of the main 

 yard and of the fore-yard there is a yard tackle, whose guy is 84 feet 

 3 inches in length and 4^ inches in thickness. The quarter tackles and 

 yard tackle are usually connected with each other, the load being raised 

 perpendicularly by the quarter tackle, and then brought overboard by the 

 yard tackle, and vice versa. 



The following ropes are fastened directly to the sails, serving to enlarge 

 or diminish the surfaces exposed to the wind. 



The main tacks {pi. II, fig. I®) are ropes attached to the end of the 

 mainsail, in order to haul it forward and down to the deck. Each of them 

 is 3^ times the ship's breadth in length (190 feet 5 inches), and three 

 fourths of the thickness of the ;hrouds. The foresail is also furnished 



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