=271.=--GETTING UNDER-WEIGH.
See that the hawse is clear; overhaul a range of the weather cable--get
up nippers--pass the messenger--knock up the stanchions--ship
the gratings--ship, and swifter-in the capstan bars--rig the
fish-davit--overhaul cat and fish; and call “all hands unmoor ship.”
When the cable grows with the angle of the main-stay, the ship
is said to ride at a “long stay;” when it grows with the angle
of the fore-stay, the ship is said to be at a “short-stay.” When
perpendicular, the phrase is “up and down.” From one or other of
the two last mentioned positions, sail is generally made in getting
under-weigh.
If from the nature of the ground, or strength of the wind, there should
be any probability of dragging the anchor, sail is generally made from
a “short stay.” In such a case, particular attention ought to be paid
that the head yards be not braced too sharp a-box; for the object being
to cant the ship with the least possible sternway, the sooner the head
sails lift or fill the better. The jibs are hoisted the instant they
will take. If, after all, the ship drags her anchor, you can pall the
capstan--stopper over all, brace round the head yards, and force her
a-head by the sails, as far as may be necessary; then back the head
yards, lay-to, and get the anchor up.
If there should be so much wind and sea, as to make it a matter of
difficulty to get the anchor, but plenty of sea-room, brace the yards
a-box, according to the tack you wish to go upon, and get the anchor
up and secured before making sail. In moderate weather, and ordinary
circumstances, sail is generally made when the cable is “up and down.”
Sometimes a stern-board is necessary, with the anchor dragging on the
ground; at other times, a tack must be made in that position.
[Illustration: A Schooner-of-War, getting under weigh.]
If riding by the starboard cable, and no impediment to port, it will
be the most eligible method, to cast her on the starboard tack, as the
cable will then be clear of the cutwater, and the ship being to leeward
of the anchor, it can be more easily catted and fished. If there should
be much sea on, this would be the best plan.
Having determined to cast on the starboard tack, overhaul the lifts,
trusses, and backstay-falls. The fore-topsail being put aback, by the
starboard braces; the main and mizen by the wind, with larboard after
braces, heaving around briskly, and before breaking ground, give her
a shear with the starboard helm; when up, hoist the jib, keeping the
helm a-starboard, until the stern-board exceeds the velocity of the
tide, when shift it, grapple the buoy, and cat the anchor. When she has
fallen off, so as to fill the after sails, let flow the jib-sheet, haul
out the spanker, set top-gallant sails and courses, and trim the yards
and sails properly.
To cast off on the larboard tack, put the helm a-port, and brace the
yards the contrary way.
=272.=--WHEN THE MESSENGER STRANDS, OR IS LIKELY TO PART.
If the messenger is likely to part, from the great strain upon it,
stopper immediately, and either pass a new one, or reeve a viol
purchase, assisting it with the cat-fall. Lash the viol block to
the cable near the hawse-hole; clinch one end of the hawser to the
main-mast, snatch the bite in the block, and take the other end to
the capstan. To assist the viol, pass a strap round the cable, close
down to the water, to which hook the cat-fall, and heave up on both
purchases.
If the messenger should strand, stopper immediately, cut it, and then
knot or splice it.
[Illustration]
=273.=--TO GET UNDER-WEIGH AND STAND BEFORE THE WIND.
[Illustration]
Make all preparations for getting under-weigh, heave-in, and make sail
as before. Lay the main and mizen topsails square aback; the fore one
sharp aback, according to the side it is intended to cast--heave-in,
cant her the right way with the helm before tripping, and as soon as
the velocity of the stern-board is greater than that of the tide, shift
the helm, grapple the buoy, run up the jib as soon as it will take, and
haul aft the weather-sheet. While falling off, cat and fish the anchor;
as she gathers head-way, shift the helm; when before the wind, right
it--square the head yards, and brail up the jib--set topgallant sails,
royals, and foresail--haul taut the lifts, trusses, backstay-falls, and
if necessary, set the studding-sails.
=274.=--IN GETTING UNDER-WEIGH, TO BACK ASTERN AND AVOID DANGER.
[Illustration]
Make all preparations as before. If required to cast on the starboard
tack, sheer her with the starboard helm; to bring the wind on the
starboard bow, brace the yards aback, about half-way up with the
larboard braces; haul out the spanker and keep the boom nearly
amid-ships. Heave up briskly, grapple the buoy, and as soon as the
anchor is up, put the helm hard a-weather to keep her to--cat and fish
the anchor. Having made sufficient stern-board, shift the helm, brace
the after yards, ease off the spanker sheet, and run up the jib. When
full aft, brace up the head yards, and as she gathers headway, right
the helm and make sail. To cast on the larboard tack, sheer her with
the port helm, brace all sharp aback, and proceed as before.
=275.=--GETTING UNDER-WEIGH--A SHOAL ON EACH BEAM.
It becomes necessary to proceed to sea, and is impossible to weather
either of those a-beam; but there is just room to pass between a shoal
astern, and either of those a-beam, with the wind _blowing fresh_.
Pass the stream cable out of one of the quarter ports; bend on one
end to the cable, and secure the other to the topsail sheet-bitts;
draw the splice[28] of the cable, bend a slip-buoy to it, and
heave it overboard. See the stoppers clear for slipping; stop the
topsails to the yards with spun-yarn, casting off the gaskets. Loose
the courses, jib, and spanker--mast-head the topsail-yards--man the
jib-halliards--sheer her from the cable with the helm--slip and run up
the jib--keep fast the stream-cable, and let her swing round. When she
heads for the passage, slip the stream-cable, right the helm, sheet
home the topsails, set the courses, and other sails if necessary; then
stand through the passage.
[28] If chain cable, unshackle.
=276.=--GETTING UNDER-WEIGH IN A NARROW CHANNEL.
[Illustration]
At anchor in a narrow channel, riding to a strong leeward tide, and
blowing fresh; a ship astern, and also one on each quarter, so near
that there is not room to wear, for casting; it is necessary to put to
sea, and to do so a passage must be effected between the two ships.
Make all preparations for getting under-weigh, and heave-in as
described before. Loose the topsails; if riding by the star-board
cable, give her a _rank sheer_ with the starboard helm; set up the
starboard backstays, and bear aft the larboard ones; overhaul lifts and
trusses; haul out the spanker, and get the boom over on the larboard
quarter; lead along the main tack and sheet; run up the jib, and haul
aft the weather sheet; “Heave round cheerily;” run the anchor up,
grapple the buoy, and as soon as she fills, meet her with the helm;
board the main tack to catch her; trim the jib and spanker sheets, set
the foresail, and trim sharp; haul taut the bowlines; stand on as far
as may be necessary.
_Note._--A good deal of uncertainty attends this manœuvre; if there
is room, it would be the best plan to lay the yards aback. It is
confidently asserted by old experienced seamen, that the above method
is perfectly practicable.
=277.=--HEAD TO WIND, CAST ON STARBOARD TACK.
[Illustration]
Everything having been previously prepared, heave in and make sail as
before. Sheer her with a starboard helm; brace the head yards sharp up
with the starboard braces, and counter brace the after ones; haul out
the spanker, and get the boom on the larboard quarter; heave in, and
up anchor; up jib as soon as it will take; and when the stern-board
exceeds the velocity of the tide, shift the helm. When the after sails
are full, trim the spanker, let flow the jib sheet, cat and fish the
anchor, haul aft the jib sheet, brace round the head-yards, and make
sail.
=278.=--WINDWARD TIDE--GET UNDER-WEIGH AND STAND BEFORE THE WIND.
Make all preparation for getting under-weigh, heave in, loose jib, up
anchor, grapple the buoy, run up the jib, cat and fish the anchor, and
make sail with expedition.
If it is necessary to have the ship under greater command, as might be
the case in a narrow channel, or crowded harbor, it would be better to
proceed as follows:--
Heave in to a “short stay,” loose the courses, topsails, jib and
spanker. If riding by the starboard cable, sheer her with the
starboard helm, and bring the wind on the larboard quarter; brace the
yards to, by the larboard braces, and keep them shivering by the helm.
“Heave up;” fill the after yards, and square the head ones; haul aft
jib sheet on starboard tack; cat and fish the anchor; up helm; fill the
head yards, shiver the after ones, get her before the wind, and make
sail.
=279.=--TO GET UNDER-WEIGH, AND STAND OUT ON A WIND.
[Illustration]
Make all preparations--commence heaving in; loose jib and spanker; top
up and bear over the boom on the right quarter, and the helm to the
side which it is intended to cast; “heave up;” get the buoy; haul out
on the spanker as soon as it will take. When the wind gets abeam, run
up the jib, and meet her with the helm; cat and fish the anchor; loose,
sheet home, and hoist the topsails, brace up, bring by and make sail.
=280.=--RIDING HEAD TO TIDE, WIND ON THE STARBOARD QUARTER, TO GET
UNDER-WEIGH ON THE STARBOARD TACK.
Make all preparations, heave short, loose sails, sheet home and hoist
the topsails, bracing them to with the starboard braces; keep them
_shivering_, by the assistance of the topsails and helm,--“heave
round,”--break ground--put the helm a-starboard--brace full the head
yards--run up the jib, and let her pay round to port; heave up the
anchor, and grapple the buoy. Haul out the spanker as soon as it will
take--shift over the head sheets, and square the head yards--trim aft
the jib-sheet, and meet her with the helm. Cat and fish the anchor, and
make sail as necessary.
=281.=--GETTING UNDER-WEIGH--WIND ACROSS THE TIDE.
In getting under-weigh, say ebb-tide, make all preparations, loose,
sheet home, and hoist the topsails; brace up the fore and mizen
topsails, and lay the main yard to the mast. Give her a spoke or two
of the lee wheel, so as to take the main-topsail well aback. “Heave
up,” cat and fish the anchor, and grapple the buoy; at the same time,
set the jib and spanker--fill the main yard, stand on to a convenient
place, and then tack or veer.
The evolution is determined by the circumstance of there being more
room to windward or to leeward.
_Flood-Tide._--Proceed as before, until the anchor is catted
and fished; then hoist the jib, haul out the spanker, fill the
main-topsail, and stand out, making whatever sail may be judged
necessary.
[Illustration]
=282.=--TO BACK AND FILL IN A TIDE-WAY.
[Illustration]
This manœuvre is only executed when a ship is to proceed up or down a
rapid river against the wind, which is supposed to be light, and may be
done by two methods, viz., driving before the wind, or broadside to it.
When the channel is broad enough, the latter method is preferable, as
the ship will be more under the command of her helm.
=283.=--DRIVING BEFORE THE WIND.
[Illustration]
This is only done in a very narrow channel. Heave up the anchor,
and get her before the wind, with just sail enough to keep her so.
Suppose her under topsails, and as she drops with the tide, it becomes
necessary for her to remain stationary, to allow a ship to pass her
stern,--set topgallant-sails, and if required to shoot ahead, drop
the foresail. If to avoid a rock, or ship astern, put the helm up or
down--haul out the spanker--brace up, and haul aft the jib-sheet, as
she comes to; shoot across until clear of danger, when put the helm up,
brail up the spanker, shiver the after yards, and when before the wind,
brail up the jib. If in standing across, she should get too near the
shore--get her on the other tack, by wearing or box-hauling.
=284.=--DRIVING BROADSIDE-TO.
Get under-weigh, and bring her by the wind under the jib, topsails, and
spanker; shiver the topsails; when filled, stand on to the middle of
the channel; brail up the jib and spanker, and let her _drift_ in this
situation until she falls off, which she will soon do, owing to her
greater immersion aft than forward, which will drift her stern farther
to windward. Haul out the spanker, and if this is insufficient, back
the mizen-topsail; if she still falls off, back the main also, both
square aback, and if she should get a stern-board, put the helm hard
a-weather; should she come-to again, shiver the topsails, and brail up
the spanker, letting her drift as before.
=285.=--SECURING THE SHIP FOR SEA.
Take the departure, give the course, and make sail. Beat to
quarters--examine the magazine--load, shot, and secure the guns--see
that all the gear of the guns is ready for service, and secured. Fill
the shot-boxes, rack, and wad-nets--get the anchors on the bows, and
lash them--unbend the cable and buoy-ropes; if clean and dry, pay
them below; also the messenger, hawsers, stoppers and nippers, and
cable-mats, put in the buckles--unreeve, cat and fish, and coil them
away below. Get chafing-mats on the yards and rigging--see the booms
and boats secured, pumps in good order, and the gratings and tarpaulins
ready for putting on. Overhaul the storm-staysail gear, see everything
ready for service, and stow it below again.
=286.=--STOWING THE ANCHORS FOR SEA.
The anchors being catted and fished, clap a stout tackle on them and
cat-head stoppers; pass a good lashing through the ring and over the
cat-head--expend the stopper in the same way. Hook the pendant-tackle
to a strap around the shank--weigh the crown, and bouse the fluke into
the bill-port by a thwartship tackle; having another tackle clapt on
the end of the anchor-stock which is uppermost, getting it as close
to the side as the stock will permit; pass stout shank-lashings also
around the stock and cat-head. _Unbend the cable and buoy-rope._
_Note._--The waist-anchors are securely stowed when they are first
got on board. Some ships use preventer lashings and jumpers in bad
weather, when the ship is lurching in a heavy sea, or when liable to
ship _seas_ in the waist.
=287.=--SETTING TOPGALLANT SAILS--BLOWING FRESH.
[Illustration]
Point the yards to the wind, and loose the sails; sheet home first to
leeward, and then to windward--having a hand to leeward to light the
foot over the topmast stay; hoist away, trim the yards, and haul taut
the bow-lines.
_Note._--In setting topgallant sails over single-reefed topsails, see
that the sheets are out square alike.
=288.=--SETTING COURSES.
[Illustration]
_Moderate weather._--Man the fore and main-tacks and sheets, attend
the rigging--have hands on the lower yards to overhaul it--haul
aboard--check the top bow-lines, weather lower lifts, and a little
of the lee-main-brace--avast the sheets; get the tacks close down,
and then haul aft the sheets--haul taut the main-brace, lifts,
trusses, and bowlines.
_Blowing fresh._--Man well the sheets, overhaul the leech-lines and
lee-bunt-lines; ease down the lee-clew-garnet, slack top bowlines,
lower lifts, and lee-main-braces, until the tacks are down; then
haul aft the sheets, haul taut the lee-main-brace, weather lifts and
bow-lines, and, if necessary, hook and haul taut the rolling-tackle,
to ease the trusses.
=289.=--SETTING THE SPANKER.
Top-up the boom, overhaul lee-topping-lifts, attend the sheets and
weather-guy; haul over the lee-guy, and trim the boom--man the outhaul
and attend the brails and vangs--let go the brails, haul out and steady
the gaff by the vangs.
_Note._--The weather-vang should never be hauled, or boused too taut,
as it may be the means of carrying away the gaff, especially when
using trysails as storm-sails.
=290.=--SETTING THE JIB.
[Illustration]
Cant the spritsail-yard to steady the boom; man the halliards and
sheet--see the downhaul and brails clear, take in the slack of the
sheet to steady the sail; “hoist away;” and as the sail goes up, ease
off the sheet--when taut up, haul aft the sheet.
=291.=--SETTING LOWER STUDDING-SAILS.
When the boom is out or a-thwartships, and trimmed with the fore yard,
the outer halliards and outhauler are to be well manned, taking in the
slack of the inner halliards, as the sail goes over the gunwale, and
ultimately reaches its destined height. In running away with the lower
halliards, care must be taken that the yard be not brought up with a
_jerk_, against the topmast studding-sail boom; by this sudden jerk
booms are liable to be sprung.
=292.=--SHIFTING A COURSE AT SEA.
_Moderate weather._--In shifting a course at sea, with the watch, and
with time to prepare everything for a smart and pretty evolution--get
the spare sail up from below, and first of all stretched across the
deck. Then, the course being set, stopper the (tack and sheet) clews,
and unbend tacks, sheets, clew-garnets, and leech-lines, bending them
forthwith to the spare sail; and, when done, untoggle the bowlines, and
send the hands aloft--trice up, lay out, cast off robins and earings,
and make the two midship robins fast to the bunt-lines--ease in the
earings together, and make them also fast to the buntlines a-midships.
Lower the sail by the bunt-lines, and gather it in by hand. Unbend the
bunt-lines, bend them to the spare sail, and take out the yard-ropes.
Divide the watch to the yard-ropes, bunt-lines and clew-garnets, and
haul taut; haul out and up all together--hands aloft, bring-to, and
when brought-to, haul on board.
_Blowing fresh._--First haul the sail up and furl it; then proceed
to make fast the midship robins and earings (when cast off) to the
bunt-lines, and to lower the sail down by the clew-garnets, as well
as buntlines.
_Note._--In this case the weather-tack and sheet is of much use in
hauling the sail in as it comes down.
[Illustration]
=293.=--TAKING IN A COURSE IN A GALE OF WIND.
Steady the yard as securely as possible, man the clew-garnets,
bunt-lines, and leech-lines; ease away the tack and bow-line--haul up
to windward, ease off the sheet, haul up, get the sail close to the
yard, and furl it.
It is a common practice in clewing-up a course, to _let go_ the bowline
upon starting the tack. Neither the tack nor the bow-line should be
let go, but each eased off handsomely by hand. By the adoption of this
plan, the sail will bag less to leeward, and the weather-clew can be
hauled up with greater ease; but both buntlines should be well manned,
and even _better manned_, than the weather clew-garnet. When the latter
gear is well up, walk away with the clew-garnet, easing steadily the
sheet. But all these precautions will be of little avail, unless there
be a good preventer-brace upon the lower yard; or else the yard tackle
be hooked to act as such, and brought sufficiently _aft_ to prevent the
tackle bringing too great a strain in an up-and-down position upon the
upper yard-arms.
=294.=--TAKING IN A TOPSAIL IN A GALE OF WIND.
Steady well the topsail and lower yards, rounding in the weather
topsail brace as much as possible. Man the clewlines and buntlines;
attend the sheets and bowlines; clew up the lee-sheet, and haul up the
buntline. If to save the yard, haul up to leeward first, point the yard
to the wind, and steady it again; lay out and furl the sail.
There appears to be still a dispute among seamen as to the preferable
method of effecting this service.
When the mast is not considered in danger, and the object be to save
the sail, or to ease the ship, the weather clew may be first lifted.
But before _starting_ the weather sheet, it would be well to ease first
a few feet of the _lee_-sheet, in order to lessen the labor of rounding
in the weather brace. So soon as the lee-sheet be sufficiently eased to
admit of the yard coming in with the weather brace, and both buntlines
be as well manned as the weather clewline, the weather sheet may be
then eased off, and the weather clewline hauled up, with every prospect
of saving the sail.
If there be plenty of sea room, and the ship can be kept away, some
officers recommend the practice of bringing the wind abaft the beam,
and then hauling up the _lee-clewline first_--taking the precaution
to have both buntlines well manned. When this operation is effected,
the weather clewline may be hauled up, rounding the brace in, as the
ship is again gradually brought to the wind. It will require particular
attention to the helm when hauling up the weather clewline, though with
judicious management, the helm alone is sufficient to _spill_ the sail.
=295.=--TAKING IN TOP-GALLANT SAILS.
Man the topgallant clewlines; lay aloft, and stand by to furl the
sail; attend the braces, bowlines, sheets, and halliards; round in the
weather braces, ease away the lee-sheet and halliards; “lower away;”
ease away the weather sheet, clew up, haul up the buntlines; steady the
yard, lay out and furl the sail.
=296.=--TAKING IN A SPANKER.
Have the brails and weather vang well manned; attend the outhaul and
lee vang; ease away the outhaul; haul over on the weather vang; brail
up to leeward; ease off the sheet; haul taut the weather brails; pass
the foot gaskets; steady the gaff, and crutch the boom.
=297.=--SETTING A CLOSE-REEFED TOPSAIL.
Point the yard to the wind, and brace the lower yard a little _sharper_
than the topsail yard. Man the sheets, attend the buntlines, and loose
the sail; overhaul the lee-buntline, ease down the lee-clewlines, and
haul home the lee-sheet; ease off the weather buntline; at the same
time slack down the weather clewline, and haul home the weather sheet.
Hoist the yard up clear of the cap; brace up, and haul the bowline;
steady the lower and topsail yards with the braces and rolling-tackles.
_Note._--It must be remembered that a close reefed topsail will not
sheet close home, as the yard is to hoist clear of the cap.
=298.=--A CLOSE-REEFED TOPSAIL SPLITS.
Clew up the sail and steady the yard; cast off some of the rope-bands,
so as to pass stops around the sail to secure it. Unbend the sheets,
bowlines, and lee-buntlines; unreeve lee-clewline and reef-tackle;
bend the weather buntline round the sail, and make the lee-earing fast
to the buntline; hook a burton to a strap round the sail, cast off
all the rope-bands, and lower away; ease away the weather earing and
lower the sail on deck. Stretch along the new sail, overhaul it, then
reef the sail at the foot, commencing at the close reef, and taking
in each of the three lower reefs separately; then bight it down, and
send it aloft, as described before, observing to use the burtons before
all. Reeve and bend the gear, stopping the head of the sail to the
buntlines; have yard-jiggers hooked to bring the sail to the yard--pass
the earings and rope-bands, in the same manner; bring the first reef
to the yard, cast out the other reef, haul up the sail; then bring the
reefs to the yard alternately, after which set the sail as before.
=299.=--A JIB SPLITS.
Mind the weather helm, haul the sail down, and hoist the
fore-topmast-staysail. Hitch the downhaul around the body of the
sail, and also pass stops around it--take the end of a rope from the
forecastle, and bend it on to haul in by. Turn out the jib-stays, bend
a line on to the end and unreeve it--haul taut the halliards--ease off
the downhaul, and haul in. Get up, and overhaul the spare sails; seize
on the sheet, bend the halliards and downhaul--stop the sail, and haul
out by the downhaul and halliards--reeve the jib-stay, turn it in, and
set it up; pass the tack-lashings, reeve the brails, set the jib, and
haul down the staysail.
=300.=--TO WEAR SHIP UNDER CLOSE-REEFED MAIN-TOPSAIL AND
STORM-STAYSAILS.
Call all hands “wear ship,” and station them; have lifts, trusses, and
rolling-tackles attended, so the yard and topmast may be well supported
in the heavy rolling which they are likely to experience. Haul down
the mizen storm-staysail, and when she falls off, up helm; ease off
the main storm-staysail sheet, and brace in the main and cross-jack
yards; at the same time taking care to keep the maintopsail full, to
preserve the head-way, and to keep her a-head of the sea; also to keep
it from splitting. When the wind is on the quarter, haul down the main
storm-staysail, and shift over the sheet; when before the wind, right
the helm, and square the head yards; shift over the fore storm-staysail
sheet; watch for a smooth time to bring-her-to; then ease down the
helm, hoist the mizen storm-staysail, and when the wind is on the
quarter, brace up the yards, hoist the main storm-staysail, haul aft
the fore storm-staysail sheet, meet her with the helm, trim the sails,
and haul the maintop-bowline.
=301.=--WEARING UNDER A MAINSAIL.
Make fast a hawser to the slings of the main yard, take it down
forward of the sail, haul it well taut, and belay it to the topsail
sheet bitts. Call all hands and station them as in the last case; take
advantage of her falling off to put the helm up. Ease off the main
sheet, and gather in the lee tack, using the yards as in ordinary
cases. Should she not go off, send down the cross-jack yard, and
mizentopsail yard; house the topmast, and get a drag over the lee
quarter, after which proceed as before in bracing the yards, and bring
by the wind.
=302.=--WEARING UNDER BARE POLES.
Send down the after yards and mizen topmast, and bend a hawser to it
in-board. Send men in the weather fore rigging with tarpaulins; up
helm, and make use of the yards as usual.
If she should not go off, it will be necessary, as a last resort,
to cut away the mizen mast, veer away the hawser, and use the mizen
topmast as a drag to assist in wearing.
=303.=--CUTTING AWAY THE MASTS.
Clear away all the running rigging attached to the mast, cut away the
lanyards of the lee rigging; then the lanyards of the stays and weather
rigging.
=304.=--LAYING-TO UNDER LOWER STAYSAILS, WEAR SHIP.
If it does not blow too fresh, the close-reefed mainsail may be set, as
some lofty sail is necessary, to prevent the ship from being pooped;
then proceed as in veering under bare poles. If she should not go off,
clap a lashing round the bunt of the foresail, and set the weather
goose-wing. Should she still not go off, send down the after yards and
mizen topmast, making a drag of them. If they have no effect, cut away
the mizen mast.
[Illustration: Scale-draft of a First Class Ship-of-the-Line, two
decks.]