The handling of light sails is the best measure of the merits of a crew. The bungling of light canvas shows that the crew are not properly drilled, and that the skipper is a muff, or else is slack in attention to his duties. Nothing looks prettier than to see running sails handled quickly. To do this it is necessary to thoroughly drill your crew at stations, and to practice them in setting, shifting and taking in the light sails.
Crew stations for reefing:
The mate and tackman go to the halyards; the man aft stands by the peak downhaul, if necessary, after getting the sheet in. When the sail is down the skipper and his watch take the pendant, and after the tackman has tied in haul the foot of the sail out, the mate standing amidships and helping by lighting the cloth along. When properly hauled out the skipper or his man pass the clew lashing. Then all hands tie in, the mate and tackman working from the middle of the boom forward, the others aft. Then the mate and his watch hoist the sail, those aft keeping it clear of the lifts, and working the sheet.
CREW STATIONS—TO SET SPINNAKER.
Crew stations for setting a spinnaker:
Get the boom along on the side you want to use it, with the heel aft and the head just forward of the rigging. See that it is clear of the jib sheets. Take your after guy outside the rigging and snap it into the grommet, or eye, on the spar. Snap in the fore guy, if you use one, and place the coil in the bow. When ready, let the tackman snap the halyard to the head, being sure there are no turns in the sail; then the mate, who has the halyard, can hoist away. When the sail is up belay the halyard and snap in the clew of the sail in the grommet or eye on top of the boom, at the word “ready!” the tackman and mate seize the pole and shove it out right ahead, until the latter can ship the heel. At the order from the mate, “haul aft!” the man in the cockpit hauls on the after guy until the boom is square. The tackman stands by the fore guy and the mate seizes the tack and breaks the sail out. To take in reverse these proceedings.
Sails:
Sails, if not used, should be frequently cast adrift and aired. Light sails stowed below, either in bundles or bags, should be attended to in this manner. It is best to have your headsails fitted with snaphooks, so they can be taken off and stowed below.
