What term refers to the wires and lines used to support and control sails?

• A. Rig
• B. Rigging
• C. Roach
• D. Reef

Answer: (B)

The wires and lines used to support and control sails are called rigging. Rigging covers the network that helps hold the mast aloft (standing rigging, like shrouds and stays) and the lines used to trim and adjust the sails (running rigging, like halyards and sheets). This term specifically refers to those supporting and control lines, not the sail shape or the overall setup. The other terms relate to different things: roach is a sail’s curved trailing edge, reef is a method to reduce sail area, and rig is a broader word that can refer to the whole sail-and-mast configuration, not just the lines and wires.