Shroud (Rigging)

Standing rigging that supports a mast primarily against transverse loads.

Shrouds lead from the mast or spreaders to chainplates or other hull attachments and may be arranged as cap shrouds, intermediates, diagonals or lowers. They can be wire, rod or high-modulus fibre and work with stays, spreaders, mast structure and the opposite shrouds as one system.

Tension affects mast alignment and load sharing, while overtension can also damage structure. Terminals, chainplates, spreader ends, corrosion, broken strands, fibre damage and deck leaks require inspection, and tuning changes should follow the rig design.