What are Topmasts?

What are Topmasts?

topmast in American English (ˈtɑpˌmæst, -ˌmɑːst, Nautical ˈtɑpməst) noun. Nautical. the mast next above a lower mast, usually formed as a separate spar from the lower mast and used to support the yards or rigging of a topsail or topsails.

How are yards attached to masts?

MASTS, BOWSPRITS, YARDS, &c. MASTS are made of long fir-trees cylindrically rounded: their sides, curving lengthways, form an arch of an ellipsis, resembling the shaft of a column, elevated perpendicularly upon the keelson, to which are attached the yards, sails, and rigging.

What is at the top of a ships mast?

The main purpose of the top is to anchor the shrouds of the topmast that extends above it. Shrouds down to the side of the hull would be at too acute an angle from the mast, so crosstrees running sideways out from the mast to spread the topmasts shrouds.

Why is it called a crow’s nest?

A crow’s nest works in most environments and provides a good lookout point (hence the name) when built in an elevated position like a hillside or top of a hill.

Where is stern of ship?

Stern: The back of the boat is called the stern. Sternlight (all-round light): The light affixed to the stern of a boat that shines 135 degrees is called a sternlight. Transom: The vertical section at the stern that houses the boat’s motor is called the transom.

What is the yardarm on a ship?

A “yardarm” is a horizontal bar on the mast of a ship, and it is supposed that when the sun passed it at a certain time of day (around noon), sailors were allowed to drink. Well, the sun is over the yardarm, so why don’t we order some wine with our brunch?

Why is it called a yard arm?

The keels had a single mast with a square sail attached to a yardarm and two large oars. The funnel was tall and thin, and a yardarm allowed it to support a sail when there was a following wind. These spars are called “yards” and their tips, beyond the last stay, are called the “yardarms”.

What is the front mast of a ship called?

Foremast – The front mast on a ship or any other sailing vessel. Mainmast – The middle, primary mast on a ship or any other sailing vessel. Mizzenmast – The aftermost mast on a ship or any other sailing vessel.

What is another name for crows nest?

What is another word for crow’s nest?

lookout tower watchtower
vantage point outlook
station tower
post watch person watchtower
catbird seat lookout point

What is a crows nest called?

as in tower, watchtower. Synonyms & Near Synonyms for crow’s nest. aerie, tower, watchtower.

What is a fore and aft?

Definition of fore and aft (Entry 2 of 2) 1 : lengthwise of a ship : from stem to stern. 2 : in, at, or toward both the bow and stern. 3 : in or at the front and back or the beginning and end.

What is bow and stern?

The front of a boat is called the bow, while the rear of a boat is called the stern. When looking towards the bow, the left-hand side of the boat is the port side. And starboard is the corresponding word for the right side of a boat.

Why is a yardarm called a yardarm?

The funnel was tall and thin, and a yardarm allowed it to support a sail when there was a following wind. These spars are called “yards” and their tips, beyond the last stay, are called the “yardarms”.

What time does the sun pass the yardarm?

This was originally a nautical expression: a yardarm is the outer extremity of a yard , a cylindrical spar slung across a ship’s mast for a sail to hang from. The time of day referred to is noon, rather than 6 o’clock in the evening, as is often supposed.

What is the yardarm of a ship?

A “yardarm” is a horizontal bar on the mast of a ship, and it is supposed that when the sun passed it at a certain time of day (around noon), sailors were allowed to drink.

What is a 5 masted ship called?

Royal Clipper is a steel-hulled five-masted fully rigged tall ship used as a cruise ship.

What are the lines called that pull the sails up the mast?

The rope that runs up the mast to pull up the mainsail is called the halyard and to bring the sail down the line is called the downhaul. The lines that are used when sailing are called sheets and each sheet will refer to the sail that it controls.