Research Note
Origin of Term - "Cro'jack Yard"
John Harland
The traditional three mast ship of the 16th C was square rigged on fore and
main, while the mizzen yard and mizzen course lay fore and aft. The Dutch
introduced a square topsail above this, which they quite logically called the
'cross-sail' (Kruis-Zeil) set on the 'Cross-sail Yard' (Kruis-Ra). The yard
below it , which spread its clews, was called amongst other things, the
'Bagien-Ra'. The reference being to an order of nuns, and signifying that it
was bereft of a sail. The Romance languages use expressions with the literal
meaning 'Dry yard' ...Verga Seca, etc. The lateen mizzen-course was more
effective when sailing by the wind, while the mizzen topsail or "Cross-sail"
was set when off the wind. The English seamen picked up the 'cross' idea but
applied it to the yard below the mizzen topsail, rather than to the
mizzentopsail yard itself.
As has been pointed out there was a short period in the late 19th C when a sail
was set on the cro'jack yard. It is to been in many contemporary paintings but
almost always brailed up, because on most points of sail it blanketted the main
course.
The word 'cross' extends to the way masts were named in Dutch and German
vessels. The aftermost mast of a German barque was the 'Besahn-mast'
(Mizzenmast) while the corresponding mast in a ship was the 'Kreuzmast'
(Literally Crossmast).
{John H Harland}
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