The only safe way to jibe in a breeze is to lower the peak and top up the boom, before getting the sail over. In ordinary airs you can jibe a boat if you pay attention to the helm, and get the sheet down flat. Let her come easy. If forced to jibe all standing with the sheet off, just as soon as the boom comes over put your helm, hard the other way, so as to throw the boat round, and get the wind back of the sail. This will break the force and save the knockdown, but is liable to break the boom. If fitted with backstays, look out for them.
Wearing a yawl:
Slack off the mizzen sheet, if that sail is set; haul your jib a-weather; flatten the mainsheet; put the helm up and let her come round slowly, easing off the mainsail as she pays off.
Steering a yawl:
Going with a strong current or tide through a channel, when there is no wind, you can steer a yawl by taking hold of the mizzen boom and working that sail from side to side. When beating to windward in a light breeze, with a strong tide under the lee, hauling the mizzen to windward will help a yawl considerably, especially if she is at all slack-headed.
Jibing a yawl:
Haul your mizzen if set fairly flat; slack the lee jib sheet and haul in the weather at the same time, until this sail is properly trimmed. Get your mainsheet aft gradually. Put the helm up slowly, and if the mizzen is set jibe that first, then the mainsail. The reason for trimming the jib and mizzen is this: If when the mainsail comes over she knocks down the other two sails will shoot her up in the wind, and give you a chance to shoot her out. If the mizzen it not set, light your jib sheets sufficiently to allow her to come up.
Coming to at a dock:
If you have to come to at a dock or pier on the windward side, go well to windward of it, lower your sail, and steer straight for it. Have an anchor and warp ready aft, and when close enough to reach let go your anchor and pay out, checking her way as you near the structure.