Topsail

A topsail is a sail set above another sail; on square-rigged vessels further sails may be set above topsails.

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On a square rigged vessel, a topsail is a square sail rigged above the course sail and below the topgallant sail where carried. A full-rigged ship has either single or double ("split" upper and lower) topsails on all masts, the single or lower topsail being the second sail above the deck and the upper topsail where so rigged being the third.

Square rig: Square rig is a generic type of sailing vessel in which the main horizontal spars are perpendicular to the keel of the ship. These spars are called yardarms or simply yards. Square rig was the main design in the age of sail....

Topgallant sail: On a square rigged sailing vessel, a topgallant sail is the square-rigged sail or sails immediately above the topsail or topsails. It is also known as a gallant or garrant sail....

Full-rigged ship: A full rigged ship or fully rigged ship is a square rigged sailing vessel with three or more masts, all of them square rigged....