Rigging

[1] According to the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition "rigging" derives from Anglo-Saxon wrigan or wringing, "to clothe".

[2] Theophrastus in his History of Plants[3] (c. 300 BCE) states that the rigging on King Antigonus' fleet was made from papyrus reed.

[4] Rigging is divided into two classes, standing, which supports the mast (and bowsprit), and running, which controls the orientation of the sails and their degree of reefing.

It was historically made of the same materials as running rigging, only coated in tar for added strength and protection from the elements.

Each additional mast segment is supported fore and aft by a series of stays that lead forward.

Materials have evolved from the use of Manilla rope to synthetic fibers, which include dacron, nylon and kevlar.

The rigging of a square rigger in London .
Standing rigging on a fore-and-aft rigged sailboat.
Key: 1. Forestay 2. Shroud 3. (Spreaders) 4. Backstay 5. Inner forestay 6. Sidestay 7. (Boom) 8. Running backstays
Bermuda rigged sloop at Convict Bay, Bermuda , circa 1879
Standing rigging on a square-rigged vessel.
Running rigging on a sailing yacht:
1. Main sheet 2. Jib sheet 3. Boom vang 4. Downhaul 5. Jib halyard