Independent guide: Yacht Rigger Australia is an educational website. It does not provide rigging, mast, inspection or repair services. The purpose of this page is to help yacht owners understand the work, recognise useful questions and make better-informed maintenance decisions.

Babystay

A stay that supports or controls the lower forward section of a mast on some rigs.

Backstay

A stay supporting the mast aft. It may be fixed or adjustable.

Block

A pulley assembly used to redirect or multiply a rope load.

Boom

The horizontal spar attached to the mast that supports and controls the mainsail foot.

Cap shroud

A principal lateral stay generally running from deck to the upper mast or masthead via spreaders.

Chainplate

A structural fitting that transfers stay or shroud load into the hull.

Checkstay

An adjustable stay used to control mast bend or support a particular mast section.

Clevis pin

A removable pin used to connect rigging terminals, toggles and chainplates.

Clutch

A deck fitting that grips a rope under load while allowing a winch to be released.

Compact strand

Stainless wire with compacted strands for reduced diameter or stretch compared with conventional 1x19 wire.

Cunningham

A control that tensions the lower luff of a sail.

Deadeye

A fitting used with lashings in some synthetic or traditional standing-rigging systems.

Dyneema

A brand of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibre widely used in high-strength marine rope.

Forestay

A stay supporting the mast forward, often also carrying a headsail or furler.

Furler

A mechanism used to roll a sail for deployment, reefing or storage.

Gooseneck

The articulated fitting connecting the boom to the mast.

HMPE

High-modulus polyethylene, commonly used for very high-strength, low-stretch rope cores.

Halyard

A line used to hoist a sail or spar.

Inner forestay

A second forward stay positioned aft of the main forestay.

Lazy jack

A light line system used to help contain a mainsail as it is lowered.

Lower shroud

A shroud supporting the lower or middle mast, often divided into forward and aft lowers.

Mast partners

The structure and support around a keel-stepped mast where it passes through the deck.

Mast step

The fitting or structure supporting the lower end of the mast.

Mast tang

A fitting on the mast used to attach a stay or shroud.

Outhaul

A control that tensions the foot of the mainsail along the boom.

PBO

A high-modulus fibre used in some specialist composite standing-rigging systems.

Prebend

Controlled fore-and-aft curvature set into a mast by rig geometry and tension.

Reefing line

A line used to reduce mainsail area or operate a reefing system.

Rod rigging

Standing rigging made from solid high-strength metal rod rather than stranded wire.

Runner

Short form for running backstay.

Running backstay

An adjustable stay used when required to support a mast or control forestay tension.

Sheet

A line used primarily to trim a sail.

Shroud

A standing-rigging member providing lateral mast support.

Soft shackle

A high-strength rope loop used as a lightweight connector.

Spreader

A spar projecting from the mast to increase the effective shroud angle.

Stay

A structural tension member supporting a mast.

Swage

A permanent metal-to-wire termination formed by controlled mechanical compression.

Toggle

An articulated fitting that allows a stay terminal to align with the load.

Topping lift

A line supporting the boom when the sail is not carrying it.

Turnbuckle

An adjustable threaded fitting used to change standing-rigging length and tension.

Vang

A system controlling vertical boom position and mainsail leech tension.

Vectran

A high-modulus fibre used in some low-stretch marine ropes.

Winch

A geared drum that multiplies force when hauling loaded rope.

A–Z of rigging terms

43 terms

Babystay
A stay that supports or controls the lower forward section of a mast on some rigs.
Backstay
A stay supporting the mast aft. It may be fixed or adjustable.
Block
A pulley assembly used to redirect or multiply a rope load.
Boom
The horizontal spar attached to the mast that supports and controls the mainsail foot.
Cap shroud
A principal lateral stay generally running from deck to the upper mast or masthead via spreaders.
Chainplate
A structural fitting that transfers stay or shroud load into the hull.
Checkstay
An adjustable stay used to control mast bend or support a particular mast section.
Clevis pin
A removable pin used to connect rigging terminals, toggles and chainplates.
Clutch
A deck fitting that grips a rope under load while allowing a winch to be released.
Compact strand
Stainless wire with compacted strands for reduced diameter or stretch compared with conventional 1x19 wire.
Cunningham
A control that tensions the lower luff of a sail.
Deadeye
A fitting used with lashings in some synthetic or traditional standing-rigging systems.
Dyneema
A brand of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibre widely used in high-strength marine rope.
Forestay
A stay supporting the mast forward, often also carrying a headsail or furler.
Furler
A mechanism used to roll a sail for deployment, reefing or storage.
Gooseneck
The articulated fitting connecting the boom to the mast.
HMPE
High-modulus polyethylene, commonly used for very high-strength, low-stretch rope cores.
Halyard
A line used to hoist a sail or spar.
Inner forestay
A second forward stay positioned aft of the main forestay.
Lazy jack
A light line system used to help contain a mainsail as it is lowered.
Lower shroud
A shroud supporting the lower or middle mast, often divided into forward and aft lowers.
Mast partners
The structure and support around a keel-stepped mast where it passes through the deck.
Mast step
The fitting or structure supporting the lower end of the mast.
Mast tang
A fitting on the mast used to attach a stay or shroud.
Outhaul
A control that tensions the foot of the mainsail along the boom.
PBO
A high-modulus fibre used in some specialist composite standing-rigging systems.
Prebend
Controlled fore-and-aft curvature set into a mast by rig geometry and tension.
Reefing line
A line used to reduce mainsail area or operate a reefing system.
Rod rigging
Standing rigging made from solid high-strength metal rod rather than stranded wire.
Runner
Short form for running backstay.
Running backstay
An adjustable stay used when required to support a mast or control forestay tension.
Sheet
A line used primarily to trim a sail.
Shroud
A standing-rigging member providing lateral mast support.
Soft shackle
A high-strength rope loop used as a lightweight connector.
Spreader
A spar projecting from the mast to increase the effective shroud angle.
Stay
A structural tension member supporting a mast.
Swage
A permanent metal-to-wire termination formed by controlled mechanical compression.
Toggle
An articulated fitting that allows a stay terminal to align with the load.
Topping lift
A line supporting the boom when the sail is not carrying it.
Turnbuckle
An adjustable threaded fitting used to change standing-rigging length and tension.
Vang
A system controlling vertical boom position and mainsail leech tension.
Vectran
A high-modulus fibre used in some low-stretch marine ropes.
Winch
A geared drum that multiplies force when hauling loaded rope.

Common questions

  • How do I choose between 1x19, compact strand, rod and Dyneema?

    Choose 1x19 stainless for most Australian cruising yachts: it is the cheapest, most widely serviced and most easily inspected option. Compact strand adds stiffness at higher cost, rod suits performance rigs but needs specialist inspection, and Dyneema saves significant weight aloft but brings creep, chafe and UV management instead of corrosion.

  • How do I measure rigging wire diameter and length?

    Measure wire diameter with vernier calipers across the widest point of the strand bundle, taking several readings along the wire. Measure length pin-to-pin, between the load-bearing centres of the end fittings, with turnbuckles set to roughly half their adjustment range — not fully open or fully closed.

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