🔍 Key Concepts

• Standing rigging vs. running rigging on a sailboat and what each is for • How a mast is supported fore‑and‑aft versus side‑to‑side • The specific purposes of shrouds, stays, halyards, and sheets

💭 Think About

• On a sailing vessel, which parts are permanently tensioned to hold the mast in position, and which parts are adjusted frequently while sailing? • Which piece of rigging controls the fore‑and‑aft position of the mast, and which controls the lateral (sideways) support? • Think about what you use to hoist a sail, what you use to trim a sail, and what you use to keep the mast from falling over—how do these roles differ?

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which option(s) are standing rigging (fixed support) versus running rigging (moving control lines). • Confirm which item’s primary job is to keep the mast from moving sideways, not forward or aft. • Eliminate any item that is mainly used to raise/lower or trim a sail rather than support the mast.