Mast (sailing)

The mast of a sailing ship is a tall vertical pole which supports the sails. Larger ships have several masts, with the size and configuration depending on the style of ship.

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Until the 20th century, a ship's masts would be wooden spars, originally constructed from a single straight tree trunk. As ship sizes increased, taller masts were constructed by lashing up to three spars together.

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A ship's masts are named from bow to stern (front to back):

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• Fore-mast - the first mast, or the mast fore of the main-mast.
• Sections: Fore-mast lower — Fore topmast — Fore topgallant mast

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• Main-mast - the tallest mast, usually located near the centre of the ship.
• Sections: Main-mast lower — Main topmast — Main topgallant mast

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• Mizzen-mast - the third mast, or the mast immediately aft of the main-mast. Typically shorter than the fore-mast.
• Sections: Mizzen-mast lower — Mizzen topmast — Mizzen topgallant mast

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• Jigger-mast - the fourth mast, although ships with four or more masts were uncommon, or the aftmost mast where it is smallest on vessels of less than four masts.
• Sections: Jigger-mast lower — Jigger topmast — Jigger topgallant mast

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Mast names for other vessels generally follow this naming.

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Many ships would also have bowsprit at an angle closer to the horizontal extending forward of the prow.

Related Topics:
Bowsprit - Prow

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Most types of ship with two masts would have a main-mast and a smaller mizzen-mast, the exception being the two masted schooner which has a fore-mast and main-mast. On a two-masted vessel with the mainmast forward and a much smaller second mast, such as a ketch, or particularly a yawl, the terms mizzen and jigger are synonymous.

Related Topics:
Schooner - Ketch - Yawl

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Some two-masted schooners have masts of identical size, but the aftmost is still referred to as the main-mast, and normally has the larger course. Schooners have been built with up to seven masts in all, with several six-masted examples.

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On square rigged vessels, each mast carries several horizontal yardarms from which the individual sails are hung, see also rigging.

Related Topics:
Square rig - Yardarms - Sail - Rigging

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Mast (sailing): Modern masts ►