ANATOMY OF A SHIP IN A BOTTLE & A SQUARE RIGGED SAILING SHIP.

The most common type of model to be found in a ship in a bottle is the Square Rigged Merchant Sailing Ship. These vessels were also referred to as Square riggers, Windjammers or Tall ships because of their square shaped sails, vast amounts of sail area and the extreme height of their masts. The windjammers sailed the worlds oceans and carried vast amounts of cargo and the men who sailed aboard these ships became expert seamen.

THE MASTS:

The large ocean going square rigged merchant sailing ship usually had four or more masts. The mast's (highighted in blue) were given names so they could be individually identified, the mast nearest to the bow was called the FOREMAST followed by MAINMAST, MIZZENMAST, JIGGERMAST and SPANKERMAST.

The masts were up to 200 feet tall, so had to be made up of three separate sections. Some sailing ships had all three sections made from wood and some ships used steel for the lower sections. These three sectins were called LOWER MAST, TOP MAST and TOPGALLANT MAST and this is relevant to the yards and sails that were attached to them.

THE YARDS:

The yards ( highlighted in green ) are the horizontal spars that are connected to the masts. the square sails are connceted to the yards and they can be made from wood or steel. They have individual names relating to which mast they are attached to, the lowest is called the LOWER YARD and working upwards LOWER TOPSAIL YARD, UPPER TOPSAIL YARD, LOWER TOPGALLANT YARD, UPPER TOPGALLANT YARD, ROYAL YARD and SKYSAIL YARD. The end tip of the yard is known as the YARD ARM.

THE STANDING RIGGING:

The standing rigging ( highlighted in red ) is what holds the masts in the vertical position, steel wire rope is used to support the masts from all directions. The FORESTAYS prevented the mast from moving backwards, BACKSTAYS stopped the mast moving forwards and the SHROUDS supported the mast from the sides.

THE RUNNING RIGGING:

Running rigging is a general term that is given to all the moving lines or ropes that operate the sails and there is nearly 200 of them. The BRACE LINES ( highlighted in magenta ) pivot the YARDS from one side to another so the sails can be adjusted relative to the winds direction, the also allows the ship to be manoeuvred . CLEWLINES, BUNTLINES, LEECHLINES and SHEETS are used to operate the SQUARE SAILS.

THE SQUARE SAILS:

The square sails ( highlighted in blue ) were attached to the yards and were operated from the deck by using the CLEWLINES, BUNTLINES, LEECHLINES and SHEETS. The square sails were named in the same way as the YARDS, the lowest being called the COURSE SAIL and working upwards LOWER TOPSAIL, UPPER TOPSAIL, LOWER TOPGALLANT, UPPER TOPGALLANT, ROYALSAIL and SKYSAIL. They were also prefixed with which mast they were fitted onto, eg MIZZEN LOWER TOPSAIL.

THE FORE AND AFT SAILS

The fore and aft sails are the triangular shaped sails, the HEADSAILS are situated on the bow and the STAYSAILS are located between the masts. These sails are operated using HALLIARDS, DOWNHAULS and SHEETS. there is also a fore and aft sails at the stern called SPANKER and GAFF TOPSAIL.

The antique sailor made ship in a bottle usually shows the sailing ship with no sails set, this is due to the ship being depicted either leaving or entering port when the sails would be furled and stowed. These events were the two most important parts of the journey for the sailors, leaving loved ones or returning to them. Some sailing ship models are also shown being towed into or out of port by a steam tug, this was necessary because these sailing ships had no engines so had to be towed in and out of port.