Next we have that important support to the mast, the forestay, 14, also of stout wire. Its eye is passed over the masthead after the shrouds have been put in their place, and it rests on the top of these. It is generally led over the stem, and is passed back to the deck through a hole in the stem head. An eye is spliced in its end, and is set up by a lanyard to a strong ring-bolt in the deck or to the bowsprit bitts. The iron hoops, to which the luff of the foresail is bent, are threaded on the forestay.
The mainmast is further stayed by the runners, 15, a great support when the vessel is running before the wind. The runners are set up by tackle; it is always necessary, when sailing, that whichever one becomes the lee runner should be quickly slacked off so as to allow the main boom to swing sufficiently far out.
To support the topmast, we have first the topmast shrouds, 16; these are spread out by the cross-trees, as has already been explained, and lead down to the chain-plates. When running before the wind, preventer backstays, 17, are also used. They are set up with a tackle and can be cast off easily; for to allow the boom free play, the lee one must be let go, and it must not be forgotten that an accidental jibe, with the preventer backstay standing, will probably carry away the topmast.
The topmast stay, 18, leading from the topmast head to the end of the bowsprit, gives an additional support to the topmast. When a jib topsail is used,
