Folding and Unfolding of Early Modern Galley Masts

摘要

Early modern Mediterranean galleys could fold down their entire rigging, consisting of a mainmast and a smaller fore mast, each carrying a large lateen sail on a long yardarm. The crew could lower the yardarms, remove the sails and then fold down, or un-step, both masts; then, they could reverse the process, raise, or step, the masts back to the upright position and hoist the yardarms.~1