Relieving tackle is tackle employing one or more lines attached to a vessel's steering mechanism, to assist or substitute for the

whipstaff A whipstaff, sometimes called a whip, is a steering device that was used on 16th- and 17th-century European sailing ships. Its development preceded the invention of the more complex ship's wheel and followed the simple use of a tiller to control ...

ship's wheel A ship's wheel or boat's wheel is a device used aboard a water vessel to steer that vessel and control its course. Together with the rest of the steering mechanism, it forms part of the helm. It is connected to a mechanical, electric servo, or h ...

in steering the craft. This enabled the

helmsman A helmsman or helm (sometimes driver) is a person who steering, steers a ship, sailboat, submarine, other type of maritime vessel, or spacecraft. The rank and seniority of the helmsman may vary: on small vessels such as fishing vessels and yacht ...

to maintain control in heavy weather, when the rudder is under more stress and requires greater effort to handle, and also to steer the vessel were the helm damaged or destroyed. In vessels with

s (long vertical poles extending above deck, acting as a lever to move the tiller below deck), relieving lines were attached to the

tiller A tiller or till is a lever used to steer a vehicle. The mechanism is primarily used in watercraft, where it is attached to an outboard motor, rudder post or stock to provide leverage in the form of torque for the helmsman to turn the rudder. ...

or directly to the whipstaff. When wheels were introduced, their greater

mechanical advantage Mechanical advantage is a measure of the force amplification achieved by using a tool, mechanical device or machine system. The device trades off input forces against movement to obtain a desired amplification in the output force. The model for t ...

lessened the need for such assistance, but relieving tackle could still be used on the tiller, located on a deck underneath the wheel.McGowan, Alan, ''The Century before Steam, 1700–1820'', Volume 4 of ''The Ship'', pp. 15–16.

HM Stationery Office The Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) is the body responsible for the operation of His Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO) and of other public information services of the United Kingdom. The OPSI is part of the National Archives (United K ...

, London, 1980. ."The Evolution of Steering Ships"
The Mariner's Museum, Newport News, Virginia. Retrieved 18 February 2010. Relieving tackle was also rigged on vessels going into battle, to assist in steering in case the helm was damaged or shot away. When a storm threatened, or battle impended, the tackle would be affixed to the tiller, and hands assigned to man them. Additional tackle was available to attach directly to the rudder as surety against loss of the tiller.Harland, John (Mark Myers, ill.), ''Seamanship in the Age of Sail'', p. 209. Conway Maritime Press, London, 1984. . The term can also refer to lines or cables attached to a vessel that has been careened (laid over to one side for maintenance). The lines passed under the hull and were secured to the opposite side, to keep the vessel from overturning further, and to aid in righting the ship when the work was finished.''Webster's New Twentieth Century Dictionary of the English Language (Unabridged)'', p. 1435. The World Publishing Company, Cleveland, 1951.

References

{{Reflist Ships Simple machines