The spar at the head of a lug sail – a roughly square sail which is set fore-and-aft but requires different handling from a more modern gaff or Bermuda rig – is known as a yard, and probably developed from the original square-rig yard.

May 23, 2019 · Each mast will have at least one yard, to which the sails are attached. In many ships, the yard is horizontal. If perpendicular, or square, to the ship’s length, the ship is “square-rigged”. Most ships have from one to three yards of different lengths and thicknesses.

The halyard is used to raise (hail or hal) the yard when setting the sail. A gaff rigged sail has two; a throat halyard to lift the end of the gaff nearer the mast, and a peak halyard to lift the outer end.

A yard is a spar on a mast from which sails are set. It may be constructed of timber or steel or from more modern materials such as aluminium or carbon fibre. Although some types of fore and aft rigs have yards, the term is usually used to describe …

Jul 22, 2011 · Sails are bent on to the yards, the horizontal timbers slung across the vertical masts. The yard arm could carry a maximum of 30 men so the size of the largest sail (the Main Course) was limited...

A yard is an essential component of the rigging on traditional sailing ships, particularly those with square-rigged sails. It is a long, horizontal spar secured to the mast at its midpoint. The yard’s …

Click on the image to read the labels. The yards are mounted on the mast in such a fashion as to allow free movement under the control of lifts and braces. The sail on this yard is "in its gear" (see Setting section) - it is hanging below the yard but still folded up rather than spread to the wind.

Apr 1, 2025 · 1 A large wooden or metal spar crossing the masts of a sailing vessel horizontally or diagonally, from which a sail is set. Yards crossing the masts of a square-rigged ship horizontally are supported from the mastheads by slings and lifts and are held to the mast by a truss or parrel.

Sep 23, 2024 · In sailing, a yard is a horizontal spar typically made of wood, metal, or modern materials like aluminum or carbon fiber. It’s an essential part of the ship’s rigging, supporting and spreading a sail, enabling it to catch the wind efficiently.

May 14, 2021 · A yard is a spar on a mast from which sails are set. It may be constructed of timber or steel or from more modern materials like aluminium or carbon fibre. Although some types of fore and aft rigs have yards, the term is usually used to describe the horizontal spars used on square rigged sails.