Slow Flight had a visit form the “Rigging Doctor”, Kim Wier from Australia, the best in Ventura. For simplicity sake, the term “rigging” means all the wires, ropes and lines that support the masts and control the sails. The wire, or rather cables, are highly tensioned (called stays and shrouds) that support the mast are known collectively as standing rigging. Whilst the rope to hoist the sails up (called halyards), rope to set, trim, and control the sails (called sheets), and other control lines (for example: topping lifts, downhauls, outhauls, kicking straps, running backstays and check stays, mainsail reefing pennants, furling lines) come under the heading of running rigging.
Slow Fight has 2 masts which mean she is a known as a “Ketch” rig. Although we had a neighbor declare she was a Yawl rig. I believe there is some discussion as to the difference between a Yawl and a Ketch: the difference being the second mast is forward or set above the rudder….Another topic of discussion for later. We have multiple cables that connect to the top of the both masts and reconnect to the boat by chain plates, shackles and toggles. All of these are subject to corrosion from exposure to salt water and dust which later could result in the rigging to fail. If your head is spinning, don’t worry, mine was too.
Kim Weir said we looked good for our trip to Mexico but should prepare for a some major maintenance before we set sail for long passages to the South Pacific. We will be sure to follow his orders….Thanks Kim for all your time educating us!