Sep 12, 2023
Royal Sails
A royal is a small sail set immediately above the topgallant on square rigged sailboats. It was originally called a "topgallant royal" and was used in light and favourable winds. These sails were introduced around the turn of the 18th century, but were not usually hoisted on the mizzen mast until the end of the century.
Sail plan of a Brig with Royals
They were usually only found on larger ships whose masts were high enough to accommodate the extra canvas and the name derives from a Dutch term for a light breeze and called them bovenbramzeilskoelte