FLAT, plain, a level ground lying at a small depth under the surface of the sea, and otherwise called a shoal or shallow.
To Flat-in, the action of drawing in the aftmost lower-corner, or clue of a sail towards the middle of the ship, to give the sail the greater power of turning the vessel. Thus if the mizen, or after-sails are flatted-in, it is evident that the intention is to carry the stern to leeward, and turn the head nearer to the direction of the wind: and if the head-sails are slatted-in, the intention is accordingly to make the ship fall off, when by design or accident she has come so near the wind as to make the sails shiver. Hence
Flat-in forward, traverse misaine, is the order to draw in the fore-sheet, jib-sheet, and fore-stay-sail-sheet, towards the middle of the ship. This operation is seldom performed, except in light breezes of wind, when the helm has not sufficient government of the ship.
FLEET, vaisseaux du roi, (flota, Sax.) a general name given to his majesty’s navy, or to any part thereof destined on a particular enterprise or expedition: also a convoy or company of merchant ships, flotte, conserve, with or without ships of war to defend them.
The admirals of his majesty’s fleet are classed into three squadrons, viz. the red, the white, and the blue. When any of these officers are invested with the command of a squadron or detachment of men of war, the particular ships are distinguished by the colours of their respective squadron: that is to say, the ships of the red squadron wear an ensign, whose union is displayed on a red field; the ensigns of the white squadron have a white field; and those of the blue squadron, a blue field; the union being common to all three. The ships of war therefore are occasionally annexed to any of the three squadrons, or shifted from one to another.
Of whatsoever number a fleet of ships of war is composed, it is usually divided into three squadrons; and these, if numerous, are again separated into divisions. The admiral, or principal officer, commands the centre; the vice-admiral, or second in command, superintends the van-guard; and the operations of the rear are directed by the rear-admiral, or the officer next in rank. See the article Division.
The disposition of a fleet, while proceeding on a voyage, will in some measure depend on particular circumstances; as the difficulty of the navigation; the necessity of dispatch, according to the urgency or importance of the expedition; or the expectation of an enemy in the passage. The most convenient order is probably to range it into three lines or columns, each of which is parallel to a line close-hauled according to the tack, on which the line of battle is designed to be formed. This arrangement is more used than any, because it contains the advantages of every other form, without their inconveniences. The fleet being thus more inclosed, will more readily observe the signals, and with greater facility form itself into the line of battle; a circumstance which should be kept in view in every order of sailing.
FLEETING, the act of changing the situation of a tackle, when the blocks are drawn together; or what is called block and block by sailors. The use of fleeting is accordingly to replace the mechanical powers into a state of action; the force by which they operated before being destroyed by the meeting of the blocks or pullies.
Fleeting therefore is nearly similar to the winding up of a watch or clock. See the article Tackle.
FLOAT, a raft, or quantity of timber fastened together across, to be wafted along a river with the tide or current.