Rigging sequence for HMS Victory

[JohnReid]

Step 18

Mizzen topmast standing backstay.

Hack P64 Fig 11

Long P222


One each side 4 1/2" rope leading to the forward eyebolt on the mizzen backstay stool.

[JohnReid]

Step 19

Fore topmast shifting backstay

Hack P64

Long P231
One each side 7" rope with a 12" double block tied to the lower end.12" single becket block tied to the foremost of the two eyebolts in rear end of fore channels.The blocks are joined by a 3" rope in a luff tackle,the fall being tied back on the eyebolt.

[JohnReid]

Step 20

Main topmast shifting backstay.

Hack P65

Long P231


Same as fore backstay but the lower 12" blocks are tied to the main channel eyebolts between the ninth and tenth deadeyes.

[JohnReid]

Step 21

Mizzen topmast shifting backstay.

Hack P65

Long P231-32Same as the fore and main but using a 4 1/2" rope for the backstay and 9" blocks with the lower single one tied to the single eyebolt on the aft end of the mizzen channel.The blocks are connected by 2 1/2" rope.

[JohnReid]

Step 22

Foretopmast preventer stay

Hack P65

Long P222


Tie one 12 " single block to the base of the port knighthead.Tie one end of a 6 1/2" rope around the foretopmast head.The lower end is led through the hole in the port bee.A single becket block is tied to its end.The two blocks are connected with a 3" rope in a gin-tackle,with the fall around the knighthead.

Please Note:
that you have to jump around from one page to the other when following Longridge,Hackney however is consistently step-by-step.This is the beauty of Hackney's book.

[JohnReid]

Step 23

Foretopmast stay

Hack P65

Long P222


Tie a 12" single block to the base of the starboard knighthead.Rig the stay as in step 22 but using a 8 1/2" rope.Lead it through the hole in the starboard bee and connect the blocks with a 3 1/2" rope,belaying the fall around the knighthead.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

My Reference Source for this thread is Hackney's book.
He lists his reference sources as the following:
Published
The Anatomy of Nelson's Ships
Longridge

HMS Victory;Building ,Restoration and Repair
Bugler

Unpublished
Admiralty rigging charts and deck diagram at Portsmouth Dockyard.

Observation
Detailed examination of HMS Victory in Trafalgar condition at Portsmouth Dockyard

Discussions with
The Captain and ship's company of HMS Victory
The Master Rigger and his staff at Portsmouth Dockyard
The Curator and staff of the Victory Museum

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

Here is a better pic of steps 15 and 16.

[JohnReid]

Note:The Topmast Backstays
The fore and main topmasts each have five backstays on both the port and starboard sides.The miizzen topmast has only two.
There are three types of topmast backstays,-Breast
-Standing
-Shifting