topmasts

Topmasts are the upper sections of the two-part masts used on traditional sailing ships. They sit above the lower mast and below the topgallant mast, and they carry the topsails and the topsail yard. The topsail yard is a horizontal spar fixed to the topmast, used to hoist and support the topsail. The topmast is stepped into a joint called the topmast partner above the lower mast and is stabilized by shrouds from the masthead and by stays to the bow and stern. A platform called the maintop often sits on the topmast, giving workers a placement from which to handle sails and lines.

During operation, the additional height provided by the topmast increases sail area without lengthening the vessel's lower mast. On large, square-rigged ships, the rig extends through several mast sections—lower mast, topmast, and topgallant mast—with the topsails set from the topmast and the subsequent sails from higher masts.

Historically, topmasts were essential for performance in light to moderate winds and for maneuverability on wind-powered ships from the Age of Sail through the 19th century. In modern times, tall ships, historical reenactments, and training vessels retain topmasts as key elements of authentic rigging, even as some contemporary ships use alternative mast configurations or nonfunctional replicas.