Instruction manual

41
5. Main Gaff Staysail
Add all the necessary lines to the sail before installa
-
tion. Seize the sail to the mast hoops, then run all the
lines to their respective belaying points. Like the
head sails, there is a port and starboard sheet. One is
tight, the other passes over the main gaff loosely to
the other side.
If you want to rig furled sails, plan sheet 6 shows
how this sail should be neatly furled on the port or
starboard side of the main masthead. If the sail is
omitted, the mast hoops just sit stacked on the top-
mast at the mast cap. Secure the halliard block to one
of the downhaul lines.
6. Fore Topsail & Lower Yard
The topsail has all the goodies; buntlines, leech lines,
and reef tackle. The sail should be bent to the topsail
yard jackstay on the forward side of the yard. Use
thread to seize the sail. The buntlines and leech line
reeve through thimbles seized to the jackstay (see fig-
ure 82). On most old ships, this fairlead would be a
block rather than a thimble. So much for economy in
the 20th century!
After the sail is attached to the yard, and with as many
lines as you can get on the rig, install the yard. The
parrel can be simplified on the model as shown (see
figure 83). Reeve the halliard first so it holds the yard
in place. Remember that the yard with a sail is in the
up position, and without a sail it is down, hanging on
its lifts. Plan sheet 6 shows the proper locations.
There are a mass of blocks on the topmast shrouds for
the buntlines, leech lines, reef tackle, lifts, and stunsail
halliards. After the lines have been rove through these
blocks, they should pass through fairleads at the
crosstrees on their way to their belaying points at
deck level (see plan sheet 6 and figure 84). There is
one exception. The topsail yard lifts stop at the
crosstrees and are tied off to the crosstree. This is indi-
cated on the belaying arrangement of plan sheet 6.
The lower yard of the
Pride of Baltimore II has no sail
(course). The decision not to have one was made dur-
ing the construction of Pride I (a typical Baltimore
Clipper would have had a fore course sail for light
wind conditions). Consequently, the lower yard’s
primary job is to hold the sheets of the topsail.
The lower yard does not have a halliard and should
be hung by a chain sling. Make a truss and place it
around the mast as shown (see figure 85). The truss
can be tightened at deck level. The
Pride II crew calls
this truss a choker. The lower yard requires braces
that lead back to the main shrouds as shown on plan
sheet 5.
Plan sheet 5 shows what the fore topsail would look
like if furled. There is also a complete view of the rig
without sails. Notice that the sheets and clew lines
are shackled together, and the leech and reef lines are
likewise shackled. Here, you have an option. Install
all the lines as shown, or omit the buntlines, leech
lines and reef tackle. If you do omit the lines, the
blocks still should be installed.