Square rig facts for kids

A Square rigger during the Parade of Sail on 4 July 1976 (US Bicentennial)

Square rig refers to a type of sail and rigging where the sails are mounted on horizontal spars. The number of masts, the square sails and how the yards (spars) are set out distinguishes a square-rigged ship. The classic example of a square-rig is a three masted fully rigged ship. The square-rigger descends from the lateen-rig. Its angled sails became square sails. The full-rigged ship is a ship with square-rigged sails on all its masts. The square rig with all its sails and rigging is hard to handle when tacking or "coming about". In the trade winds, square-rigged ships have an advantage, especially in deep water.

Images for kids

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  Main-mast of a square-rigged brig, with all square sails set except the course

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  The single-masted, square-rigged Humber keel performed well to windward.

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  Tending sail

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  The Golden Hinde, a square-rigger with several of its lines unshipped, in dry dock in London

See also

In Spanish: Vela cuadra para niños