Fore and Aft Yards
As well as the square-rig yard described above, the traditional lateen rig is a triangular sail rigged fore and aft from a long yard mounted at an angle (downward sloping forward) from the mast. As well, some smaller fore and aft rigs use a yard. The spar at the head of a lugsail - a roughly-square sail which is set fore-and-aft but requires more handling than a more modern gaff or Bermuda rig - is known as a yard, and probably developed from the original square-rig yard. The spar at the head of a gunter-rigged sail serves the function of a running topmast, but is not given that name. Some would call it a 'gaff', while others would use the name 'yard'.
Read more about this topic: Yard (sailing)
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