[53] To turn a vessel from one side to the other with her head toward
the wind. When a vessel is obliged to tack several times successively
to get to windward, she is said to be beating to windward; when to
get up or down a harbour, channel, &c., beating up or down, &c.; when
trying to get off a lee shore, clawing off.
A vessel’s tacks are always to windward and forward; and her sheets,
to leeward and aft; whence the terms larboard or starboard tack,
meaning that she has her tacks aboard on the larboard or starboard
side.
Having got abreast or opposite the mouth of the harbour, haul the fore
bowline. “Ready about.”[54] Put your helm up, or to windward a little,
and let the vessel go rather off the wind, to get good way on her; then
gently down or to leeward with it, which is announced by the helmsman
calling “Helm’s a-lee.” Let fly the jib-sheet: this takes off the
balance of wind from her head, and acts in concert with the helm in
sweeping her stern to leeward, or rather in allowing her head to come
quicker up into the wind.
[54] A command that all hands are to be attentive, and at their
stations for tacking.
The man who attends the jib-sheet must carefully gather in the
slack[55] of the one opposite to that which he let go. When the jib
comes over the larboard side of the stay[56], haul the larboard
jib-sheet well aft. When the mainsail is filled, let draw the
foresail.[57] Right the helm, and shift over the tack of the mainsail.
[55] Or loose rope.
[56] The fore-stay, or large rope from the lower mast head to the
stem head, to prevent the mast from springing when the vessel is
sending deep, or fallen into the hollow between two waves, after
pitching.
[57] That is, let go the bowline which holds the sail to this, now
weather shroud. It was held there till now, that the wind might act
upon it with greater power to turn the vessel, from the time her
head was about half-way round. The expression is derived from its
being necessary, in larger vessels of a similar rig, to ease the
rope gradually as the sail draws it. From the time the jib-sheet is
let fly, till the foresail is let draw, the vessel is said to be _in
stays_.
One hand should attend the main-sheet, to gather in the slack till
the boom is a-midships, and then ease it off as the sail fills, and
the vessel lays over to port. When the vessel is in stays, and it is
doubtful whether she will come round, or, in order to make her come
round when she gathers stern-way, shift the helm to the opposite side.
She is now about upon the starboard tack.