Stays

Ropes of hemp or iron used for supporting masts. The fore-and-aft stays lead forward and comprise fore, foretopmast, jib, flying-jib, jib-topsail, inner-jib, outer-jib, main, main-topmast, middle, main-topgallant, main royal, mizzen, mizzen-topmast, mizzen-topgallant and mizzen-royal stays. Those stays which lead down to the vessel's sides are called backstays. (See Breast, Standing, Shifting, Preventer and Backstays.) A vessel is said to be in stays or hove in stays when she is tacking.