Sailboat Spars & Rigging

Your rig holds up the mast and translates wind into drive, so its strength and tune directly affect safety and performance. Understanding the parts and how they work together is essential for any sailor.

What does spars and rigging include?

This category covers backstays and babystays, bowsprits and spinnaker and whisker poles, lifeline and stanchion rigging, lines and running rigging, and standing rigging fittings. Together they support the mast and control your sails.

What is the difference between standing and running rigging?

Standing rigging — the wire or rod and its fittings — holds the mast up and stays largely fixed. Running rigging is the ropes you adjust while sailing, such as halyards, sheets, and control lines, to raise and trim the sails.

How do I choose the right running rigging?

Select rope by job, matching fiber and construction to the load and stretch each line can accept — low-stretch fibers for halyards, easy-handling covers for sheets. Correct diameter ensures strength and smooth running through your hardware.

Use our spars and rigging guides to select rope and fittings, tune your rig, and keep it safe aloft.