Standing and Running Rigging

Standing rigging is the fixed wires that hold up the mast — shrouds run from the mast to the sides of the hull, the forestay runs forward, and the backstay runs aft. These are tensioned and rarely adjusted while sailing.

Running rigging is the ropes you actively use to control sails. A halyard hoists a sail up. A sheet controls the angle of a sail to the wind. The mainsheet controls the mainsail, the jib sheets control the headsail. The boom is the horizontal pole along the foot of the mainsail, controlled by the mainsheet and kicking strap (or vang).