Running rig controls sails on a ship, adjusting positions and tensions to change direction or speed. The complexity of rigging varies by vessel type and size, with custom equipment used on racing boats. Factors for selecting rigging include cost, quality, and reliability. Rig failures can result from prolonged exposure to harsh environments, abrasive wear, and uneven loading.
Running rig refers to the lines on a ship or ship, usually made of rope, used to trim the sails. While a boat’s standard rig is usually checked and adjusted before sailing and then left in that position, running rig is frequently adjusted while underway to change positions and tensions on the sails to change direction or speed. These lines can control the sails directly, like those attached to the sails, or indirectly, like the lines attached to the boom.
The complexity of running rigs spans a wide range and depends on the size and type of vessel on which it is used. It can be relatively simple for a single-masted sloop used for recreational cruising compared to the more complex rigging of a racing boat or larger multi-masted, multi-sail vessel. Custom equipment can complement standard equipment on racing boats to optimize sail positions and tensions and help speed up the process of getting the racing rig up and down.
Some lines, such as halyards and sheets, are used to control the sails directly. Attached to the top corner, or head, of each sail is a halyard used to raise and lower it. A sheet is used to place the movable corner, or ball, at the foot of a sail. An outlet is attached to the mainsail skein and can be squeezed to flatten the bottom of the mainsail. In rough weather a reef line is used to reduce the area of the mainsail for better control of the boat.
Other lines control the sails indirectly. For example, the jib leading edge, also called a kick leash, is a line and pulley system that runs from the bottom of the mast to the jib. It is used to flatten the mainsail, to prevent it from twisting, and to prevent the jib from lifting uncontrollably, particularly in the event of an accidental jolt where the jib swings unexpectedly to the other side of the boat. .
Factors a sailor might consider when selecting sailing rig for sailboats include cost, quality and reliability, performance, and how it will be used. For example, a well-funded racing boat might be equipped with high-performance custom equipment at significant cost. A small recreational boat for day sailing might have simple, inexpensive racing rigs. Reliability and quality may be priorities for remote cruisers traveling to remote areas where equipment repair or replacement would be difficult or impossible.
Rig execution failures are often related to the conditions under which it is used. Lines can degrade from prolonged exposure to the harsh environment of salt water and ultraviolet light from the sun. They are also vulnerable to abrasive wear, both between the line and the hardware it contacts in the boat, and between the fibers of the line and any salt or dirt particles that may have found their way into the line. When a line is knotted or twisted around a piece of hardware, uneven load distribution between the fibers is also a concern. Such uneven loading can significantly reduce the resistance of a line.
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