Before we left Lunenburg, we had bent on 8 square sails, two triangular sails, and the Spanker (a trapezoid shaped sail on the Mizzen mast). The square sails included the Course, Lower Topsail, Upper Topsail and T'gallant (Topgallant is the full name, but "t'gallant" is the way it is pronounced) on the Foremast and the Mainmast. The Course is the lowest and largest sail on each mast; it may also be called the Foresail or the Mainsail, depending which mast one refers to. The others proceed up the mast in the order named, each one somewhat smaller than the sail below. For each of these sails there are quite a few lines to learn: halyard, clewline or downhaul, one or two buntlines, leechline, sheets, plus tacks and lifts for the Courses. It adds up to a lot of lines!
The top sail on each of the Fore and Main masts is the Royal. We bent these on when we were in Jost van Dyke, adding more lines to learn. And more power to the ship when under sail.
The triangular sails that we set out with from Lunenburg were the Inner Jib and the Main Topmast Staysail. After leaving Jost, while out at sea we bent on the rest of the head sails and some more staysails. On the head rig we added the Flying Jib, Outer Jib and Fore Topmast Staysail. Also, the Main T'gallant Staysail on the Mainmast and the Gaff Topsail on the Mizzen mast. Yet more lines to learn.
To help us learn lines we have had "pin chases" in which one of the lead seamen for our watch calls out the name of a line and we have to go identify the pin to which that line is belayed. It's very good practice so that when we actually have to set or strike a sail we know where to go. And practicing in our night watch we learned to find lines in the dark, which is necessary since sails have to be set and struck at all hours depending on the weather.
We now have all the sails bent on except for the Stunsails. Those will come later. Thank goodness, because I have enough to keep track of right now!
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