CHAPTER I.
THE MODEL, RIG, AND NAMES OF THE SAILS AND ROPES IN COMMON USE.
It would be beyond the province or scope of this work to enumerate all the different models and peculiarities of the numerous crafts and rigs that are used to navigate the waters, both in civilized and uncivilized countries; and we must content ourselves by taking into consideration a few of the most pronounced types that are now in vogue, and explaining their principles as briefly as possible.
Local prejudices rule strong in all parts of the world; and the rig, size, and model of a boat, are almost always defined by the "custom" of the waters in which it is to be sailed: still it is perhaps well to give a few general rules for the selection of a boat. For bays, sounds, harbors, and inland tidal waters connected with the sea, the boat or small yacht should be of a shoal model, and what is termed the centre-board principle, and usually the sloop or cat-boat rig.
For ponds, and small lakes of fresh water, the boat should always be of good beam, light draught, and small sail, on account of the frequency of puffs of winds from unexpected quarters from the neighboring hillsides. In fact, if there is any danger in sailing, it is upon these land-locked ponds or lakes, where more seamanship is often needed than on the larger bays and sounds of the ocean itself.
For outside work, or in places where the tidal currents are strong, or the wind may sweep across the water for miles, "kicking up a sea," the deep keel model, with schooner or cutter rig, will be the better boat; this class being considered superior in working to windward in a heavy sea to the shoaler craft. But, even on this question, there are disagreements; and you shall hear of those who maintain that the shoal-water centre-board craft is the better boat in a heavy sea-way; and some lovers of a craft called a "sharpie" tell startling tales of its endurance in heavy weather, although it is the shoalest of all shoal boats. The advantage of the centre-board boat over the keel boat for harbor and sound sailing, or wherever the tide rises and falls to any great extent, is obvious. With the latter, one is liable to be brought up upon an unknown sand-bank or ledge, and compelled to remain, sometimes for hours, till floated off; whilst with the centre-board, upon touching any danger or shoal, the board is hauled up, and the boat that a moment before drew, perhaps, six feet of water, now draws but one foot, allowing one to "go about," or steer to one side, and avoid the obstacle, and get home in time for supper. In short, in the opinion of the writer, it is only for outside use, and for a larger class of vessels than this book will treat of, that the keel boat is needed.
To avoid repetition, and to condense as much as possible, so as to be useful to all for practicable purposes, what is termed the sloop-rig—one quite as frequently used as any other for small boats—is presented in the accompanying diagram. This will be described as briefly as possible consistent with a thorough explanation of the sails, ropes, &c., and their different names and uses; it being, of course, understood that the management of a sloop in a seamanlike manner carries with it the knowledge of managing a yacht of any rig, the principle applying equally to all; and to describe the "staying," "wearing," and absolute management of each sail and rope of each separate rig, would be unnecessary, and extend this little work to a greater length than is desirable. The best that can be done is to take a type, and, having made that familiar, the whole science of boat-sailing will have been acquired.
The sloop-rig consists of the following-named spars:—
The mainmast (c c), which is usually placed at about two-thirds of the boat's length from the stern. This spar serves to sustain the mainsail(1) by a series of hoops which encircle it.
The main topmast (d d), which is fitted to the head of the mainmast, and terminates at its upper end in a small ball, called the truck, through the sides of which are fitted little sheaves (i.e., wheels), by means of which, and the use of a small-sized rope, called signal-halliards, the flag, or private signal of the boat, is hoisted to the topmast's head, and displayed.
This spar also serves to sustain the gaff-topsail (3), which is hoisted and lowered along its length by a series of hoops encircling the spar. This sail, as a rule, is set and furled from the top.
The bowsprit (h), which projects from the bow of the boat, and serves to support the mainmast by means of a stay (g g) leading from its outer end to the mainmast head, and another stay, called the bobstay (f), to the prow of the boat. The jib-stay (g g) serves to hoist and set the jib (2) upon,—the most important sail, after the mainsail.
The jib-boom (i), which extends out beyond the bowsprit, its heel being made fast to the latter, and, by means of stays, supports the mainmast and main-topmast; and upon the inner one of these is hoisted and set the outer or flying jib (4), the other (k) supporting the main-topmast, and called the main-topmast stay.
The main-gaff (e e), which sustains and stretches the head of the mainsail, which is securely lashed to it by means of small seizings, or lashings.
The main-boom (b b), which receives and stretches the foot of the mainsail, to which it is securely lashed.
The above constitute the main spars and sails of a boat of the sloop rig.
To enable one to understand all that follows, it will be necessary to acquire a little more information concerning these spars and sails, and the names and uses of the principal ropes, sheets, &c.
As the reader faces the cut, and glances at the mainsail (1), he should remember that the head of the sail is that part fastened to the gaff; and the foot, that part of the sail fastened to the boom. The outer-leach, or after-leach, that part of the sail which extends from the end of the gaff to the end of the boom farthest removed from the mainmast. The inner-leach, or luff, is that part of the sail which extends from the gaff to the boom, and is confined to the mainmast by hoops that embrace it, and allow of the sail being hoisted and lowered at will.
The clews of a sail are those parts which a "land-lubber" might call corners; i.e., the clews of the mainsail are four, and are situated at the junction of the luff and head of the sail, the outer-leach and head of the sail, the outer-leach and foot of the sail, and the luff and foot of the sail; the latter being also called the tack.
The mainsail, as will be observed, has also a series of regular lines crossing its surface. These are called reef-points, and consist of short, dangling pieces of small rope, sewed into the sail, and hanging down on either side, long enough, when the sail is lowered, to be fastened around the main-boom, and thus tie down the sail, making it smaller for rough weather, which is called "reefing." On the outer-leach, at the end of these rows of reef-points, are placed little iron rings, or cringles, as they are called, which are used to pass a rope through, called a reef-pennant, to haul the sail well out on to the boom when being reefed. The rope (a a) represents what is called the topping-lift, and is used to lower or hoist the main-boom, so as to make the sail set well in certain circumstances; or when the main-boom is out over the water on one side of the boat, when running before the wind, to "top it up" so as to keep it out of the water when the boat rolls. It is set up by means of a small pulley, the end of the rope coming inboard through a sheave in the boom, or one fastened to its side.
The jib has its luff, head, foot, and after-leach, the same as the mainsail, but, of course, has only three clews, being a triangular sail.
And what is defined about these sails will apply to all fore-and-aft sails.
The most important ropes, to which the attention of the reader is called, are the following:—
The main-sheet (l) is a long rope fastened to the main-boom, and controlling the action of the mainsail. According to the size of the boat, this sheet will be single, or rove through a series of blocks, to enable the helmsman to handle the sail. Upon the management of this sheet depends, in a great measure, the safety of all boat-sailing. Its perfect handling and adjustment call for the nicest skill; for its slightest movement changes the whole face of the canvas spread in the mainsail.
The jib-sheets (m) are fastened to the after-clew of the jib at the foot of the sail, and are led aft on both sides of the deck, so as to be within reach of the helmsman, or those sitting in the after-part of the boat. Like the main-sheet, they are used to confine and trim down the jib, each being used on the side on which it is desired to trim down the sail.
The outer-jib is controlled in the same manner, by two sheets, one being led aft on either side of the deck.
The mainsail is hoisted by means of two sets of ropes, called throat and peak-halliards (n).
These are fastened at the foot of the mast to cleats when the sail is hoisted; the throat-halliards, usually on the port side of the mast, and the peak-halliards, on the starboard side of the mast.
N.B.—The term starboard is applied to any thing appertaining to the right-hand side of a boat, with the observer looking towards the bow. The term port (formerly, and sometimes now, called larboard) is applied to any thing appertaining to the left-hand side, and, thus once defined, never changes.
Although the observer may go forward and look aft, the starboard side is still the starboard side, although now on his left hand. Hence sailors talk of the starboard anchor, the port shrouds; "Ease off the port jib-sheet!" "Let go the starboard flying-jib-sheet!" "Put your helm over to port!" "Hoist those colors from the starboard side!" "Let the boom go over to port!" "Get up that anchor which you will find below in the forecastle, on the starboard side!" "Go about on the port tack!" &c.
The jib (2) is hoisted by means of a rope, which is called the jib-halliards, which is made fast to the upper clew of the sail, and led through a block at the mainmast head, and thence to the deck, being "belayed" (i.e., made fast) to the mainmast near the deck. This sail also has a small but useful rope attached to it, called the down-haul, which is fastened to the upper clew, and led down to a small block at the bowsprit end, and thence in on deck; and serves to haul the sail down after the halliards have been cast off. The flying-jib (4) is fitted with halliards and down-haul in the same manner.
The gaff-topsail (3) is set by hauling out the after-leach and foot to the end of the main-gaff, which part of the gaff is called the peak, by means of a rope, which is named the gaff topsail-sheet, which reefs through a sheave in the gaff end, and hence under the gaff to the throat, and thence through a block to the deck. The other clew, formed by the luff and foot, is stretched by means of a rope leading to the deck, called the tack; and the sail is hoisted by means of halliards, that reeve through a block fastened at the topmast head, and thence leading to the deck.
When the boat is under way, and pressed over by the wind, the terms "starboard" and "port" are often exchanged for "leeward" and "windward," and, in fact, are the more commonly used in many instances; although an old sailor would apply the word "starboard" to certain things that he would not apply the word "leeward" or "windward" to: but these exceptions it would be hard to point out, and they would be of little material use. Let it suffice to say, that as a rule, when a boat is at anchor or upright, the terms "starboard" and "port" are used; whilst, when under way, the terms "lee" or "leeward," "weather" or "windward," are more commonly used; for instance, "Let go the weather jib-sheet!" "Haul aft the lee flying jib-sheet!" "Haul that coil of rope over to the weather-side (or to windward)!" "Throw that hot water to leeward!" "Does she carry a weather-helm?" &c.