Standing rigging

Standing rigging is left, running rigging right.

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On a sailing boat, standing rigging generally refers to lines, wires, or rods which are more or less fixed in position while the boat is under sail. This term is used in contrast to running rigging, which represents elements of rigging which move and change fairly often while under sail. Standing rigging is placed under tension to keep the various spars (mast, bowsprit) securely in position and adequately braced to handle loads induced by sails. On modern yachts, standing rigging is often stainless steel wire, stainless steel rod or synthetic fiber. Early sailing vessels used rope of hemp or other fibers, which gave way to wire ropes of various types. Galvanized steel was common for most of the 20th century, though eclipsed since the 1960's by stainless steels. Highly engineered racing yachts have recently begun to use composite fiber line and rod for standing rigging, with the goal of reducing weight aloft.

Typically, a modern sailboat rigged as a sloop will carry the following pieces of standing rigging: a forestay, a backstay, and upper and lower shrouds.

Rigging parts include: Swageless Terminals, Swage Terminals , Shackle Toggle Terminals and Fail Safe Wire Rigging Insulators