Gasket (sailing)

In sailing, a gasket is a sail tie (a rope that is used to fasten down a furled sail) that is left permanently in position. This is to give ease of use in situations when working in an exposed position, such as on the yard of a square sail, or on a bowsprit.^{[1] : 100, 218} Some gaskets are made of sennit instead of rope.

A gasket holding the main-royal on a modern square-rigged training ship.

Usage and history

A detail of a painting by Jack Spurling. The coiled gaskets can be seen hanging from the yards at the top of each sail.

In the most recent version of square rig, dating to the end of the 19th century and into the 20th century, square sails were fastened to jackstays, metal rails that went along the top of the yard, spaced a short distance from the yard so that a rope could pass through the gap. The gaskets were also fastened to the jackstay. When stowing a sail, the gasket is passed abaft (behind) the yard and up on the other side, going round both the yard and the gathered-in sail. Each gasket was passed several times around the yard and sail, so as to contain a good length of the furled canvas. When not in use, gaskets were coiled and hung on the fore side of the sail. In a harbour stow (as used by the Royal Navy), special gaskets made of sennit tied the furled sail just to the jackstay: the gaskets did not go round the yard.^{[2]: 13, 19 [3]: 32–33}