Page 52: “Sovereign Of The Seas” Part IX – Running Rigging And Final Details
It fits around the after sides of the masts and its lines are secured directly around the main and foreyards to hold these firmly against the forward sides of their masts. It should be noted, however, that the mizzenyard parrel has but two rows of trucks (balls) and that it holds the mizzenyard tie, rather than the yard, in place. The tie of the crojack yard is an exception to other upper yards, being made as a non-adjustable sling. All upper yards, including the crojack yard, are held firmly downward and backward with simple strops passed around the masts.
With the yards attached, we can proceed with the running rigging. You will have a number of blocks to attach. The writer discovered that the quickest way to handle these was to first seize all blocks into pendants of the correct thread sizes, about 6 in. long, before beginning to attach them into place. Regardless of their purpose, you will then have ample line to secure the blocks and can clip off the free ends as necessary. It is also safer to put a touch of shellac on the blocks and threads to make sure that none of them will come loose when adjusting the rigging tension. This applies also to all knots the rigging requires.
A study of the rigging plan shows that all lifts (vertical adjustment for the yard ends) and braces (horizontal adjustment) are duplicated on both sides of each yard. Hence, only one side of the rigging and yards is shown to simplify the plan and to help you understand just where each line runs. The one exception to this is the lift for the mizzenyard. It is single. Also, the fore topsail yard, and fore yard rigging, is duplicated on the other yard as described on the plan at those points. The foreyard duplicates the arrangement of the mainyard. Where lines appear to terminate as, for example, in the tops, they are to be belayed at such points. It is well to begin with the lower yards. Carefully note where each line starts; then trace its course to the belaying point at the other end.
