I have to wonder... Is it right to point the ship this way, into the wind, day or night? To sail along, pretending to know what it takes, to live on board of one so tall, magically sailing the seven seas, running up the sails to capture the wind. Is it right to tighten the sheets? Oh, to be away from the land, manning the sails, doing the needful.

In sailing, a full-rigged brig is a vessel with two square-rigged masts (fore and main). The main mast of a brig is the aft one. To improve maneuverability, the mainmast carries a small (gaff rigged) fore-and-aft sail.

Brig sails are named after the masts to which they are attached: the mainsail; above that the main topsail; above that the main topgallant sail; and occasionally a very small sail, called the royal, is above that. Behind the mainsail, there is a small fore-and-aft sail called the spanker or boom mainsail (it is somewhat similar to the mainsail of a schooner). On the foremast is a similar sail, called the trysail. Attached to the respective yards of square-rigged ships are smaller spars, which can be extended, thus lengthening the yard, thus receiving an additional sailing wing on each side. These are called studding sails and are used with fair and light wind only. The wings are named after the sails to which they are fastened, i.e. the main studding sails, main top studding sails, and the main topgallant studding-sails, etc.

The brig's foremast is smaller than the mainmast. The foremast holds a foresail, foretopsail, fore topgallant sail, and fore royal. Between the foremast and the bowsprit are the fore staysail, jib, and flying jib. All the yards are manipulated by a complicated arrangement of cordage named the running rigging. This is opposed to the standing rigging which is fixed and keeps mast and other objects rigid.source

The large figureheads that had been so popular in previous centuries went out of vogue as they affected the sailing ability of the ship. Cost also being a factor, the figureheads became smaller in the 18th century. They were often religious figures such as saints or perhaps a unicorn or even a lion.

A ship is not rigged until she is provided with all the spars, sails and cordage required to move and control the hull. The straight or curved pieces of wood or metal, called davits, from which the boats carried along the bulwarks are hung, belong to the rigging. All are fastened directly or indirectly to the hull, and all are required to complete her clothing.

*Vessels of all classes, from the smallest sailing-boat up to the largest ship, are classed according to the particular combination of their spars, sails, and cordage. Cutter, brig, or ship, are only convenient abbreviations for cutter-rigged, brig-rigged, or ship-rigged. *

It is strictly correct to speak of the rigging of a mast or a yard, or of a boom, when all that is meant is the special set of ropes, of whatever size or material, required to keep them in their place, or withdraw them from it, when they have to be moved in the ship. In such cases, the part is looked upon as a whole, and is mentally abstracted from the total of the vessels rigging.

The rigging must provide the crew with the means of going aloft, and with standing ground to do their work when aloft. Therefore the shrouds are utilized to form ladders of rope, of which the steps are called ratlines, by which the crew can mount. Near the heads of the lower masts are the tops platforms on which men can stand and in the same place on the topmasts are the crosstrees, of which the main function is to extend the topgallant shrouds. The yards are provided with ropes, extending from the middle to the extremities or arms, called horses, or footropes, which hang about 2 or 3 ft. down, and on which men can stand.

The masts and spars are kept in their place by the standing rigging. This is not to be confused with the running rigging, which is used to set and put down the sails. While sailing may seem confusing, it is compared often with being easier than trying to change the mind of a teenager

Only a few of the ropes on a ship are actually called ropes, the rest of them are called lines and have a different use. If you want to know more sailing and nautical terms, go here.

As the whole of the rigging is divided into standing and running, so a rope forming part of the rigging is divided into the standing part and the fall. The standing part is that which is made fast to the mast, deck or block. The fall is the loose end or part on which the crew haul. The block is the pulley through which the rope runs. Standing in sea language means fixed thus the standing part of a hook is that which is attached to block, chain or anything which is to heave the hook up, with a weight hanging to it; the part opposite the point. Tackle is the combination of ropes and blocks; the combination of cables and anchors constitutes the ground tackle.

The function of all cordage may be said to be to pull, for the purpose either of keeping the masts in their places or of moving spars and sails. source

In the end, the coolness of its tallness does wear off. The ships do not allow for a lot of personal space and if you don't mind living on top of one another, this may well be your ship. :)) I like a little bit of distance between me and the next guy's body odor. Just saying. They are hot bunks, which means you share and while one is awake, the other is asleep and the galley is tiny so you get to eat elbow to elbow. I am wondering how they did this so many years ago with ten times the amount of people that were on board with me. Yikes.

A flower. Always.

A whisper left upon my lips.
The shadow of night caressing my soul.
The stillness in my heart, as the sweetest of dreams gently kiss me goodnight.
Your loveliness will forever be engraved on my soul.

And just like that, these musings are done. Just so you know, although much sun and shine was used up today, I can guarantee that there is still a little left in my heart. Have a most fabulous evening!

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Thank you for visiting my post 💖 Because of you, I come back to post again and again, I am encouraged by you, for the time you take to visit, comment or even upvote. For all of these reasons, I am eternally grateful. Don't ever forget what a wonderful world we live in, people. Some days, it is not as easy to see, how wonderful it really is. Kindness counts. Wherever you go, whatever you do.

they set my aunts house on fire
i cried the way women on tv do
folding at the middle
like a five pound note.
i called the boy who use to love me
tried to ‘okay’ my voice
i said hello
he said warsan, what’s wrong, what’s happened?

i’ve been praying,
and these are what my prayers look like;
dear god
i come from two countries
one is thirsty
the other is on fire
both need water.

later that night
i held an atlas in my lap
ran my fingers across the whole world
and whispered,
"where does it hurt?"
it answered,

"everywhere"
"everywhere"
"everywhere"

warsan shire