Installation of the Fore Royal Yard – Fore Royal Halyard – Vergue de petit cacatois – Drisse de petit cacatois
Before installing the fore royal yard, some additional research was necessary, as the belaying arrangement shown in Boudriot’s La Créole monograph did not seem consistent when compared with the fore topgallant halyard (belayed to starboard at the bulwark).
This prompted me to consult the standard contemporary references once again: F. A. Coste, Manuel de gréement (1826) and M. Verdier, Nouveau manuel complet de marine, première partie: gréement (1837).
Both authors state unambiguously that the fore royal halyard was belayed at the inner bulwark, immediately abaft the fore topgallant halyard. As far as I can trace the lead of the line, the original model appears to follow this arrangement as well.
As with the topgallant halyard, the fore royal halyard is led through a single‑sheave foot block hooked into the waterway. These blocks are fitted with iron hardware.
Here is the result on the model:
View attachment 603669
From left to right: fore topsail halyard, fore topmast staysail halyard, fore topgallant halyard, fore royal halyard.
The belaying points will later receive their coils.
More to follow …
