The Nautical Encyclopedia
Patterson’s Illustrated Nautical Encyclopedia — Howard Patterson, 1891

Topsail

Sea Terms

The second sail above the deck. Men-o'-war carry a large single topsail, but merchantmen carry double topsails, as they are much easier to handle with a limited crew. A ship carries fore, main and mizzen topsails. The topsails are named respectively upper and lower topsails.

Topsail, with its parts named
Topsail, with its parts named
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