With the masts up, and the and all the rope eyelits on the deck and the masts, the sails and rigging had to be figured out. Without the example of the Gorch Fock around I would have not figured it out. Sail cloth is sourced and the layout and measurements of all the sails cut out of paper, 15 in total. Without a sowing machine, the seams of the sails were all glued in with cloth material glue.

Sails and rigging

templates of sails
templates of all the different sails designed and shaped and pinned to cloth
transfer of cutting lines
the cutting lines are transferred to the sail cloth with carbon paper
first sails
starting at the front, the first sails go up

The rope ladders were knotted individually. Research helped to uncover the design of a handy tool to keep the rope tight and allow for tying all the knots.

rope ladder tool
5 or 6 ropes are tied together and then kept apart with the nails to provide even spaces for the ladder effect.
rope ladders
the rope ladders are then installed from the eyelids on deck to the top.
remaining sails
the remainder of the sails go up

Installing the sails, rigging and tackle were a sigificant challenge. I bought and made several tools to help, including dressmaking scissors, crochet needles, sail cloth, green cotton string for the tackle and white cotton string for the ropes. The pullies was particularly difficult to manufacture due to its small size and drilling the 1 mm holes, get the rope trough it and tying to pullies to the masts presented much practice in miniature work under magnifiers. Patience and endurance were discovered in places where I did not think it existed.

Finalinally the completed ship was ready for final decoration and completion.

SS Great Britain Build Logs