All 10 parts, explained
1. Jolly Roger
The Jolly Roger is the pirate flag. Pirates raised it to show other ships who they were.
Fun fact The flag gave a ship the chance to give up without a fight, which is what pirates hoped for.
2. Sails
The sails are big pieces of strong cloth called canvas. When the wind fills them, they push the ship across the sea.
Fun fact Sailors climbed high up the masts to open and close the sails by hand.
3. Masts
The masts are the tall wooden poles that hold up the sails. This ship has three of them: front, middle and back.
Fun fact The real pirate ship Whydah, from 1717, had three masts and was about 34 meters (110 feet) long.
4. Rigging
The rigging is all the ropes that hold up the masts and move the sails. Some ropes form ladders for climbing up.
Fun fact The rope steps that sailors climbed are called ratlines.
5. Lookout platform
High on the middle mast is a wooden platform called the top. A sailor stood there to watch for land, storms and other ships.
Fun fact The barrel-shaped crow's nest you see in movies was invented later, in the 1800s.
6. Bowsprit
The bowsprit is the long pole sticking out of the front of the ship. Ropes and small sails are tied to it.
Fun fact The front of a ship is called the bow, and the back is called the stern.
7. Anchor
The anchor is a heavy iron hook on a thick rope. When it is dropped to the sea floor, it stops the ship from drifting away.
Fun fact Sailors pulled the heavy anchor back up by turning a big wooden drum called a capstan.
8. Cannons
Cannons poke out through square holes in the side of the ship called gun ports. Each gun port has a lid that can close.
Fun fact The pirate ship Whydah carried 28 cannons, and more than 65 cannons have been found at its wreck.
9. Hull
The hull is the body of the ship. It is made of thick wooden planks, sealed tight so that water stays outside.
Fun fact Pirates pulled their ships onto beaches to scrape the bottom of the hull clean. This was called careening.
10. Stern
The stern is the back of the ship. Its row of windows lets light into the captain's cabin inside.
Fun fact The rudder, which steers the ship, is under the water at the back of the stern.
