Square rig

Square rig refers to a type of sail and rigging where the sails are mounted on horizontal spars.^[1] The number of masts, the square sails and how the yards (spars) are set out distinguishes a square-rigged ship.^[2] The classic example of a square-rig is a three masted fully rigged ship.^[2] The square-rigger descends from the lateen-rig.^[1] Its angled sails became square sails.^[1] The full-rigged ship is a ship with square-rigged sails on all its masts.^[3] The square rig with all its sails and rigging is hard to handle when tacking or "coming about".^[4] In the trade winds, square-rigged ships have an advantage, especially in deep water.^[5]

A Square rigger during the Parade of Sail on 4 July 1976 (US Bicentennial)