© Greg Harrington
The royal mast is the topmost mast of a square-rigged vessel. It is attached to the top of the topgallant mast, usually on the forward side, though occasionally on the aft side. In later years, the royal mast and topgallant mast were usually a single spar, each region (demarcated by the blocks, sheaves, and yards of the topgallant and royal sails) retaining its original name.
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