A lift is a piece of standing or running rigging that supports the weight of a yard, boom, or spinnaker pole. It runs from a block or attachment point high on the mast down to the outer extremities of the spar. Crew members haul on the lifts to keep the yard horizontal, tilt it for specific sailing angles, or take the strain off the mast fittings when the sail is furled.
Heard on the job
Take up the slack on the starboard topping lift before we drop the main.
Also heard as
- topping lift
Related terms
Same word, different worlds
Concrete & Cement
One layer of concrete placed in a wall, column or mass pour, or the height cast between horizontal joints.
Asphalt PavingOne layer of mix placed and compacted in a single pass of the paver.
GeosyntheticsOne layer of fill placed and compacted at a time, the unit by which walls, slopes and embankments are built.