Gaff rig

The gaff rig is a Takelungsart of sailing ships, which probably originated in the 17th century and was largely replaced in the first half of the 20th century by the high rigging.

The term gaff (nl. / Nds. For fork) a movable mounted on a mast, obliquely upwardly projecting spar (round timber) where the gaff rigging is clearly visible.

• 4.1 Combination with square sails
• 4.2 Steilgaffelrigg

Components and descriptions

The irregular square sail is suspended between gaff and boom. Since it is set in the longitudinal direction of the ship, it is one of the Schratsegeln. His four leeches ( " sail edges " ) are called the luff, leech, leech, Oberliek, the corners Klauohr, neck, clew and Piek. Another name for the leech is Baumliek, for the luff luff. The gaff sail is completely from the boat deck and thereby operated by smaller crews. To set the sail, the gaff is raised with two traps, Piek case and throat halliard parallel to the boom. Only when the theft has reached its final position, the gaff is raised with the Piek case.

The Gaffelklau establishes a connection between the gaff and the mast in such a way that the gaff against the mast remains changeable swivel and height and tilt. The theft was originally made ​​from a strong fork, later of gezimmertem wood, cast iron or steel. If the Klau made ​​as a separate part, is also spoken by a gaff shoe. The opposite end of the gaff is called Piek.

Above the gaff sail, between the gaff and mast, often can put a gaff topsail. It is a lightweight sail that is either cut as a three - or square topsail. The sail can be either fixed at the top of the mast mounted ( the top part of the mast ) or be driven flying. The latter means that no edge of the sail is secured to the rig. In order to cut the sail bigger than it would allow the outermost tips of the mast and gaff, you can hit it on spars. The mast in the luff is then called a topsail spar or Topprah. If a spar struck at the leech, it is called Fußrah.

Properties

For comparison to the usual high today Rigging: see high rigging

The supporting the sail mast must be secured usually with twin backstays against overturning forward. Depending on the design, these shrouds have to be served abaft as downwind either at each turn, but at the latest exchange rates. Because usually only the tree over peppers on a certain position is fixed, while the gaff on ausweht by Lee, the sail becomes twisted. This will affect the aerodynamic characteristics of the sail (see also twist ). The blow out as well as excessive swinging back and forth can be a Gaffelgeer (or Gaffelgei ) - be controlled, but the attachment of the same means more wind resistance in the sail and extra workload for - a rope which often results from the Piek down against the hull team during maneuvers.

Development of the gaff rigging

Formation

On the origin of the gaff sail, there are three theories. One approach says that they originated in the 17th century in Holland as a further development of the lateen rigging. Another theory is that it evolved from the sprit sail. The dissatisfaction that this blows up when the spar is Lee from the sail is said to have led to the spar was driven ever higher, until she finally was in the final position known today. The third assumption sees the origin in the lugger, the labor intensity, a development made ​​it necessary. Often the common sails were so large that they could be operated only by a great team; still had to be brought spar at each turn to the other side of the ship's mast, which was only with considerable effort.

Progression to high rigging

A further development of Gaffelriggs is the Bermuda Triangle or Hochrigg with sailing, whose mastery began around 1910 in the sport of sailing. Because of its advantages, it took only 15 years to the Hochrigg matured to the dominant Takelungsart and the gaff rigging largely repressed. But other reasons are gaffelgetakelte ships today rarely seen: The berufsschifffahrtliche branch, working with much heavier ships and otherwise makes very different demands on the material used was motorized in this era and on, so that there ( gaff - ) Sailing most as supporting sail, for example, on fishing boats, survived.

Special shapes

Combination with square sails

In addition to purely gaffelgetakelten sloops ( Einmastern ), ketches and gaff schooners the gaff rigging is in two ways with square sails - that is, with quadrangular transverse to the vessel battered Sailing - been combined in order to take advantage of Schrat - as well as square sails can (see fore-: comparison with square sails ). Topsail schooner (also Rahschoner ) also on all masts gaff sail, but at least over a gaff sail one or more square sail; the poles in question bear no gaff topsail. There are also several ship types where gaffelgetakelt at least one pole and at least one other is completely rahgetakelt; known are mainly Bark, Barquentine ( Barkentine ) and Brigantine.

Steilgaffelrigg

From the usual gaff rigging, in which the gaff is conducted at a large angle to the mast, the rig is different with a nearly perpendicular towering steep gaff, with which a vehicle can pass higher prices to the wind.

Forms a Steilgaffelriggs are the early American Huari rig and the Gunter rig. The latter dates from the 17th century England, but is still used for small, trailerable sailing dinghies, to limit the mast length. The long gaff is raised almost vertically in the gaff shoe at him, so that visually gives the impression of a hochgetakelten boat.

The Steilgaffelrigg experienced primarily on the racing yachts at the beginning of the 20th century flourished, but which were then soon replaced in many cases, such as in the various classes of Schärenkreuzer, from Marconi rig.