Riggin'...Online Booklet

[JohnReid]

Step 19

Fore topmast shifting backstay

Hack P64

Long P231

One each side 7" rope with a 12" double block tied to the lower end.12" single becket block tied to the foremost of the two eyebolts in rear end of fore channels.The blocks are joined by a 3" rope in a luff tackle,the fall being tied back on the eyebolt.

 

[JohnReid]

Step 20

Main topmast shifting backstay.

Hack P65

Long P231

Same as fore backstay but the lower 12" blocks are tied to the main channel eyebolts between the ninth and tenth deadeyes.

 

[JohnReid]

Step 21

Mizzen topmast shifting backstay.

Hack P65

Long P231-32
Same as the fore and main but using a 4 1/2" rope for the backstay and 9" blocks with the lower single one tied to the single eyebolt on the aft end of the mizzen channel.The blocks are connected by 2 1/2" rope.

 

[JohnReid]

Step 22

Foretopmast preventer stay

Hack P65

Long P222


Tie one 12 " single block to the base of the port knighthead.Tie one end of a 6 1/2" rope around the foretopmast head.The lower end is led through the hole in the port bee.A single becket block is tied to its end.The two blocks are connected with a 3" rope in a gin-tackle,with the fall around the knighthead.

Please Note:
that you have to jump around from one page to the other when following Longridge,Hackney however is consistently step-by-step.This is the beauty of Hackney's book.

 

[JohnReid]

Step 23

Foretopmast stay

Hack P65

Long P222

Tie a 12" single block to the base of the starboard knighthead.Rig the stay as in step 22 but using a 8 1/2" rope.Lead it through the hole in the starboard bee and connect the blocks with a 3 1/2" rope,belaying the fall around the knighthead.

 

[JohnReid]

My Reference Source for this thread is Hackney's book.
He lists his reference sources as the following:
Published
The Anatomy of Nelson's Ships
Longridge

HMS Victory;Building ,Restoration and Repair
Bugler

Unpublished
Admiralty rigging charts and deck diagram at Portsmouth Dockyard.

Observation
Detailed examination of HMS Victory in Trafalgar condition at Portsmouth Dockyard

Discussions with
The Captain and ship's company of HMS Victory
The Master Rigger and his staff at Portsmouth Dockyard
The Curator and staff of the Victory Museum

 

[gordy]

John,

That's very impressive, thank you for all the effort of sharing your craftsmanship!

 

[JohnReid]

Thanks Gordy,the pleasure is mine.I always promised myself that I would do this but never had the time.The sequence of rigging this ship is what is missing in the literature presently out there and there are no plans to re-publish Hackney's great little book.
I am no expert but I have had the experience of being a confused beginner and yes I almost gave up too.Cheers! John.

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

Note:The Topmast Backstays
The fore and main topmasts each have five backstays on both the port and starboard sides.The miizzen topmast has only two.
There are three types of topmast backstays,-Breast
-Standing
-Shifting

 

[JohnReid]

Fore Topmast Backstays.
The fore to aft sequence for rigging the backstays at the foremast port channel:

1-Breast backstay eyebolt-between deadeye 1 and 2.

2-Standing backstay 1-4th deadeye.

3-Standing backstay 2-10th deadeye.

4-Standing backstay 3-14th deadeye.

5-Shifting backstay-eyebolt just aft of 15th deadeye.

The foremast port channel is similar.

 

[JohnReid]

Main Topmast Backstays.

1-Breast backstay eyebolt -same as foremast.

2-Standing backstay 1-same as foremast.

3-Standing backstay 2-8th deadeye.

4-Standing backstay 3-1st deadeye on stool.

5-Shifting backstay-same as foremast.

 

[JohnReid]

Mizzen Topmast Backstays.

1-Standing backstay-1st deadeye on mizzen stool.

2-Shifting backstay-eyebolt at aft end of the mizzen channel.

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

Deadeye sizes 1:1 scale (diameter in inches)

Fore lower 18

Fore topmast 12

Main lower 18

Main topmast 12

Mizzen lower 14

Mizzen topmast 8

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

Please note:
There are other eyebolts to be installed on the channels of which I will refer to later.For purposes of clarity I didn't show there locations at this time.You may however want to install them on the channels before any rigging takes place.

As you can see my diagrams are a work in progress.I am learning this stuff as I go along.Any hints or tips are welcome.

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

Step 24

Main topmast stay.

Hack P65

Long P223 Plan6


Using 8 1/2" rope rig the upper end using the same method.The lower end is tied in a loop around the foremast just under the supports for the top.Its free end is tied off to the deck eyebolt aft of the foremast.


Step 25

Hack P65

Long P223 Plan 6

6 1/2" rope is rigged around the masthead led down through the single block at rear of the foremast head and belays to the deck eyebolt.

 

[JohnReid]