Running rigging - Definition

Running rigging is the term for the rigging of a sailing vessel that is used for raising, lowering and controlling the sails - as opposed to the standing rigging, which supports the mast and other spars. The running rigging includes halyards and sheets.
Some types of running rigging include: - halyards, which are used to raise sails. - downhauls, which lower a sail or a yard, and can be used to adjust the tension on the luff of a sail - Cunninghams, which tighten the luff of a sail - Guys, which control spinnakers - Topping lifts, which hold up booms or yards - Barber hauls, which adjust the sheeting angle of a foresail (jib)

Older ships (particularly square-rigged vessels) required even more running rigging like braces, which were used to adjust the fore and aft angle of a yard and braces, which adjusted the up and down angle of a yard.

Example Usage of Running