Mizen lifts, 16th century
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First
we have to differentiate between the lateen sails of the Mediterranean
which were often the only sails rigged, and the mizen lateen sails of
ships which were otherwise square-rigged.
The Parral
The parral was fitted with two rows of trucks, and on square-rigged
ships with ribs also; ribs were not used in the Mediterranean. It was
not attached directly to the yard, but instead enclosed the halyard. If
it reeved through a block, then it ended in a purchase at the foot of
the mast; if it reeved through a two-hole deadeye, the purchase was- in
many cases belayed to the yard.
The jeers
In the Mediterranean the jeers generally reeved through a sheave at the
masthead. On square-rigged ships the jeers frequently reeved through
blocks,
which were attached to the crosstrees. The jeers were attached to a
halyard,
which reeved through blocks or through a kevel block.
The lift
The lift was only carried on square-rigged ships. It was attached to
the peak of the yard with a more or less complex arrangement of
crowsfeet, ran to the mizen topmast and/or the mainmast, and ended at
the deck with a purchase.
The toggles
Almost all ropes, including the shrouds, were fitted with toggles in
the Mediterranean, which facilitated rapid connection and disconnection
of the ropes.
The tack tackles
The two tack tackles braced round the foot. On square-rigged ships they
were attached to the aftermost main shrouds, and in the Mediterranean
to
the bulwarks. They reeved through blocks at the foot of the yard and
belayed
to belaying pins or cleats. In the Mediterranean a third tack tackle
was
often fitted in the centre.
The vangs
In the Mediterranean a pair of vangs was fixed to the upper third of
the gaff, which were intended to prevent it bending, as they were often
very long.
In this case the weather vang was set up taut, and the lee vang left
slack.
The sheet
Lateen sails were only fitted with one sheet. Its lower block was fixed
to the ensign staff knee, to a ring bolt on deck, or to the outrigger
while the sheet itself was belayed to a cleat.
The leech lines
The widest imaginable variety of leech lines was carried, sometimes in
addition to brails, as shown in the drawings on the right.
The
tack
If a bonnet was carried (never in the Mediterranean!) its forward end
was held by a tack, similar in form to the sheet.
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