A studding sail, or stun'sl (pronounced stuns'l/ˈstʌnsəl/) is an extra sail on a square rigged vessel for use in fair weather. It is set outside the square sails, using stun'sl booms which run out along the yards. They came into use some time in the middle of the 17th century and by the beginning of the 19th century were usual on all square rigged sailing vessels. They started to become less common in the last quarter of the 19th century, as the economies of smaller crews and avoidance of damage to the ship's gear became more important than a fast voyage.
A painting of racing tea clippers by Jack Spurling, a marine artist known for his technical accuracy. This shows the reasonable maximum amount of stun'sls that could be set so that they did not interfere with each other.
The origins of studding sails are relatively uncertain. The earliest reference is in 1655, but precise information on how these early examples were rigged is unknown. It is not until 1790 that this is available. Some changes in the detail of design and usage occurred over succeeding years.[1]: 115
All ordinary working square-rigged vessels were usually fitted out to set stun'sls by the start of the 19th century. This started to change in the last quarter of the 19th century.[2]: 131 [3]: 48–49 As steamers took over routes and cargoes that needed fast passages, sailing vessels competed by being able to cut costs much more easily. Crew sizes were reduced, so there were fewer experienced hands to set and take in stun'sls. Any ship which pressed on in rising winds risked breaking a stun'sl boom or damaging sails–if the owner had all or some of the stun'sls sent ashore, there was less to break and these repair costs avoided. Clippers on the routes to China continued to race against each other with large crews and full suits of sails (which included stun'sls) until they also had their trade taken over by steamers in the years following the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. As these ships took other routes, most of them had the same economies applied.[4]: 210
Descriptionedit
Diagram of a topmast studding sail
A studding sail is an extra sail hoisted alongside a square-rigged sail.[5] It is named from the mast that it is set alongside: top-gallant studding sail, topmast studding sail and lower studding sail.[6]: 234 These sails provide extra speed in fine weather.[7]
Referencesedit
^Lees, James (1979). The Masting and Rigging of English Ships of War, 1625–1860. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-136-X.
^MacGregor, David R. (1984). Merchant sailing ships, 1815–1850 : supremacy of sail. London: Conway. ISBN0-85177-294-3.
^Gardiner, Robert J; Greenhill, Basil (1993). Sail's Last Century : the Merchant Sailing Ship 1830–1930. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-565-9.
^MacGregor, David R. (1983). The Tea Clippers, Their History and Development 1833–1875. Conway Maritime Press Limited. ISBN0-85177-256-0.
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May 04, 2024
studding, sail, studding, sail, stun, pronounced, stuns, extra, sail, square, rigged, vessel, fair, weather, outside, square, sails, using, stun, booms, which, along, yards, they, came, into, some, time, middle, 17th, century, beginning, 19th, century, were, u. A studding sail or stun sl pronounced stuns l ˈ s t ʌ n s e l is an extra sail on a square rigged vessel for use in fair weather It is set outside the square sails using stun sl booms which run out along the yards They came into use some time in the middle of the 17th century and by the beginning of the 19th century were usual on all square rigged sailing vessels They started to become less common in the last quarter of the 19th century as the economies of smaller crews and avoidance of damage to the ship s gear became more important than a fast voyage USS Monongahela with a full set of studding sails set Contents 1 History 2 Description 3 References 3 1 Bibliography 4 External linksHistory edit nbsp A painting of racing tea clippers by Jack Spurling a marine artist known for his technical accuracy This shows the reasonable maximum amount of stun sls that could be set so that they did not interfere with each other The origins of studding sails are relatively uncertain The earliest reference is in 1655 but precise information on how these early examples were rigged is unknown It is not until 1790 that this is available Some changes in the detail of design and usage occurred over succeeding years 1 115 All ordinary working square rigged vessels were usually fitted out to set stun sls by the start of the 19th century This started to change in the last quarter of the 19th century 2 131 3 48 49 As steamers took over routes and cargoes that needed fast passages sailing vessels competed by being able to cut costs much more easily Crew sizes were reduced so there were fewer experienced hands to set and take in stun sls Any ship which pressed on in rising winds risked breaking a stun sl boom or damaging sails if the owner had all or some of the stun sls sent ashore there was less to break and these repair costs avoided Clippers on the routes to China continued to race against each other with large crews and full suits of sails which included stun sls until they also had their trade taken over by steamers in the years following the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 As these ships took other routes most of them had the same economies applied 4 210 Description edit nbsp Diagram of a topmast studding sail A studding sail is an extra sail hoisted alongside a square rigged sail 5 It is named from the mast that it is set alongside top gallant studding sail topmast studding sail and lower studding sail 6 234 These sails provide extra speed in fine weather 7 References edit Lees James 1979 The Masting and Rigging of English Ships of War 1625 1860 London Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 136 X MacGregor David R 1984 Merchant sailing ships 1815 1850 supremacy of sail London Conway ISBN 0 85177 294 3 Gardiner Robert J Greenhill Basil 1993 Sail s Last Century the Merchant Sailing Ship 1830 1930 London Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 565 9 MacGregor David R 1983 The Tea Clippers Their History and Development 1833 1875 Conway Maritime Press Limited ISBN 0 85177 256 0 King Dean 2000 A Sea of Words 3 ed Henry Holt p 424 ISBN 978 0 8050 6615 9 Underhill Harold 1946 1938 Masting and Rigging the Clipper Ship and Ocean Carrier 1958 reprint ed Glasgow Brown Son and Ferguson Ltd Keegan John 1989 The Price of Admiralty New York Viking p 281 ISBN 0 670 81416 4 Bibliography edit Harland John 1984 Seamanship in the age of sail Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 179 3 External links editTwo pictures 1 showing Pride of Baltimore and Pride of Baltimore II each with a topmast studding sail set on the port side of the foremast nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Studding sails Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Studding sail amp oldid 1219114038, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
