CHAPTER V.
THE RIGS OF SMALL BOATS.
Spritsails—Dipping lugs—Standing lugs—Leg-of-mutton sails—The balance lug—The Una rig—Balance reefs—The sloop—Rules of open boat sailing.
The Spritsail rig is much used on small boats all round the coast of England. It is an exceedingly handy and safe rig, and the spritsail will set flatter and is better adapted for turning to windward than almost any other form of sail. It has no boom or gaff, but is extended by a long diagonal spar called the sprit, which tapers away at the two extremities, the upper end of it fitting into an eye on the peak, the lower end fitting into a loop on the mast called the snotter. The snotter (see ([Fig. 25]) is a grommet which is placed round the mast, and then seized in the middle so as to form an eye for the sprit.
Fig. 25.
Fig. 26.
In using this rig, the sail is hoisted first; one end of the sprit is inserted into the eye of the peak, and then the other end is inserted into the snotter. Lastly, the snotter is pushed up the mast as far as it will go, bringing the sail quite flat. It is well to have a tackle for hoisting the snotter and preventing it from slipping down the mast. It is important that the snotter should be quite sound. There is a great strain on it, and should it break, the sprit end may drive a hole through the bottom of a boat or work some other serious damage.