Multimasted

Multimasted is a nautical term used to describe a sailing vessel that has more than one mast. It emphasizes the number of masts rather than the exact sail arrangement on each mast. Historically, multimasted ships were built to carry more sail area and achieve greater speeds, though they required larger crews and more complex rigging and handling.

Common configurations include two-masted and three-masted designs, with some four-masted examples. Two-masted vessels encompass schooners, brigs, and brigantines, which use a variety of sail plans. Three-masted ships include full-rigged ships, which typically carry square sails on all masts, and barques, which use square sails on most masts with fore-and-aft sails on the aftermost mast. Four-masted ships—though rarer—appear in both full-rigged and barque forms, continuing the pattern of larger hulls supporting extensive sail plans.

In modern times, multimasted sailing ships survive mainly as historic vessels, training ships, or as participants in tall-ship races and festivals. They are noted for their distinctive profiles and the skill required to maneuver them, as well as for their place in maritime heritage. Notable examples include three-masted full-rigged ships such as the Cutty Sark, which remains a prominent symbol of the era of sail.