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Gaff sails
Flying gaff topsail
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In the first half of the 18th
century gaff sails superseded mizen lateen sails. Initially they were
still carried on lateen yards, then after the middle of the 18th
century on the gaff proper in conjunction with a boom (driver), or
without the boom (spanker). In the merchant service the name spanker
was used for a mizen gaff sail with or
without a boom. In the 19th century boomless gaff sails replaced
staysails
between the masts in the Royal Navy and were known as trysails. When
fitted
to merchant ships they were called spencers. After the late 18th
century
gaff topsails were also carried in many merchant ships on the mizen
only.
The parral
The parrals for the gaff and driver boom were fitted with a series of
trucks early on, but after the middle of the 19th century an iron goose
neck was used (see GAFF and DRIVER BOOM).
The throat halyard
The throat halyard served to hoist the gaff. An upper block was
suspended from the crosstrees, a lower one on a ring bolt in the gaff
jaws. The two were joined by the throat halyard.
The peak halyard
The peak halyard assumed the job of lifts and set the correct angle of
the gaff. There was a very wide variety of methods of attaching the
peak
halyard, as the drawings on the right show.
Vangs The vangs served as braces to the
gaff,
and were rigged in a similar way
The topping lift
The topping lift held the driver boom horizontal. It was attached to the
cap, and there were various methods of rigging it.
The sheet
The sheet was used to control the driver boom. The strop of its upper
block was prevented from slipping by a thumb cleat. The lower block was
often
hooked to a transverse iron rod, known as the horse. In the case of
spencers
the sheet was also hooked or shackled to a horse.
The peak outhaul
A rope ran via a sheave on the peak of the gaff to the peak of the sail
and back to the mast; the sail was hoisted by this means.
The downhaul
A further rope was fixed to the peak, which passed to the jaws and on
to the base of the mast; by this means the sail could be hauled down
when it was to be furled
The foot outhaul
The outhaul ran via a block or a sheave on the end of the boom and ran
directly inboard on small ships, or by means of a purchase on large
ships,
then belayed to a cleat.
Brails
There were up to 5 brails, which were used to haul the sail to the mast
when the sail was to be furled.
 Gaff topsail: 1. Halyard; 2. Down
haul; 3. Tack;4. Sheet
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Standing gaff topsail
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