I’ve never heard of a “gallant,” just a “top gallant” (usually “t’gallant,” sometimes “gans’l”). I’ve sailed on ships with split t’gallants, though. I did sail on one ship with a skys’l, never a moonraker; I suspect those are both terms for “a sail above the royal”.
Just a quick WAG: at one point it was the topmost sail, and then someone was like “what if we put another sail on top of that one so we can go seven speed?”
The next sail on top became the Gallant, and so forth, apparently topping out the tech with a Moonraker.
See also https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rig_(sailing)
I found this pic informative:
It’s also interesting how they were naming things after James Bond movies all the way back in the Age of Sail!
I’ve never heard of a “gallant,” just a “top gallant” (usually “t’gallant,” sometimes “gans’l”). I’ve sailed on ships with split t’gallants, though. I did sail on one ship with a skys’l, never a moonraker; I suspect those are both terms for “a sail above the royal”.
Username checks out!
I’ve never sailed on so much as a sloop. 😢 I’ve been eyeing $800 Hobie Cats on Craigslist, but I’d have nowhere to put it even if I bought one.
Other people’s boats are always the best to sail on ;)
The only trouble with that is I want to be in charge.
Why isn’t the topsail at the top?
Just a quick WAG: at one point it was the topmost sail, and then someone was like “what if we put another sail on top of that one so we can go seven speed?”
The next sail on top became the Gallant, and so forth, apparently topping out the tech with a Moonraker.
And here are the forces acting on the ship:
BEER!