Every Boy's Book: A Complete Encyclopaedia of Sports and Amusements Part 47

BRINGING UP.

Our destination outward bound being in sight, we must prepare to bring up. The anchor must be got on deck; the cable pa.s.sed through the hawsehole, and shackled or fastened to the anchor, with its stock made ready and secured; then suspended over the bowsprit shrouds, and made ready to let go. Lower the head-sails, put down the helm till she is head to wind, and when she is fairly stopped we may drop the anchor.

MAKING SNUG.

The mainsail may now be triced up, with the peak lowered, and with the helm to one quarter or the other, according as the tide sets; we may then hope to lie securely as long as we choose.

GOING BACK.

In getting under weigh once more, first haul the cable short; get all the canva.s.s ready to set up; weigh anchor, and, as the wind is fair, set the head sails first and the mainsail afterwards; the peak should not be too high in running, nor the back of the mainsail fast, but raised slightly to let the wind into the head sails. The tide is now against us; we must, therefore, keep out of the strength of it as much as possible.

JIBING.

In rounding the next point we shall jib, or jibe, one of the most difficult manuvres in sailing; for in doing so there is danger of broaching-to, so as to run on sh.o.r.e; of being swept overboard by the boom as it pa.s.ses from side to side; and of carrying away or snapping the boom itself. To avoid these mischances, give the sh.o.r.e a wide berth; take in the mainsheet, keeping its coils clear for running out; trice up the tack of the mainsail, and if the breeze is strong, lower the peak; you may then put your helm to the opposite side to which the boom swings, and, on the instant the mainsail has traversed to the other side, change your helm to the reverse and meet her;--this prevents the broaching-to which would otherwise occur.

BRINGING UP AT MOORINGS.

We are still against the tide, and our moorings are in sight. To bring her up handsomely calls for more skill than even handling her well. Our object now must be to lay her still at the moorings from whence we started, and at the same time to have enough way to reach them. In our present case it will be best to round her to about an hundred yards short of the moorings, and, when head to wind, lower the mainsail, leaving the head sails standing--this with putting up the helm will bring her head round again--then take in the jib, and, if she has way enough, the foresail also; and with the opposing tide we may steer our craft so steadily to the buoy as to take it on board with ease.

Having informed the young sailor of what is necessary to be done on board, we will now impress on his mind a few useful nautical terms and maxims, which may lead to the preservation of life and limb.

OF THE MARINERS' COMPa.s.s, AND VARIOUS NAUTICAL TERMS.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

The ancients, whose only guides over the trackless waters were the heavenly bodies, so often obscured by clouds, could not venture far from sh.o.r.e. It is the compa.s.s which has enabled us to steer boldly across the deep. The directive power of the loadstone has been long known to the Chinese, and it was brought over to Europe about the year 1260. The communication of the magnetic power to steel and suspending it on a pivot, is undoubtedly an European invention. The compa.s.s is composed of a magnetic needle suspended freely on a pivot, and supporting a card marked with the thirty-two points of direction into which the horizon is divided, and which are thence called the points of the compa.s.s. The needle always points nearly north, and the direction of the boat may be easily seen by looking at the card. The whole apparatus on board a s.h.i.+p is enclosed in a box with a gla.s.s cover, to allow the card to be seen without being disturbed by the wind. This box is also sometimes suspended, to prevent the needle being affected by the motion of the vessel. The whole is then placed at the binnacle, in sight of the helmsman. In the inside of that part of the compa.s.s-box which is directly in a line with the bow, is a clear black stroke, called the lubber line, which the helmsman uses to keep his course; that is, he must always keep the point of the card which indicates her course pointing at the lubber line. Every young yachtsman must learn to box the compa.s.s; that is, to repeat all its points in order.

CAUTIONS AND DIRECTIONS.

1. Never leave anything in the gangway, and keep the decks clear.

2. Coil up all ropes; and have a place for everything, and everything in its place.

3. Take care that in tacking or jibing the boom does not knock you overboard.

4. Stand clear of ropes' ends and blocks flying about, when you are tacking, and the sails shaking.

5. Keep a good look out ahead, and also for squalls, which may generally be observed to windward.

6. Always obey the orders of the steersman promptly.

7. Keep all your standing rigging taut.

8. When the boat is on the wind, sit on the weather side.

9. Should the boat capsize, keep yourself clear of the rigging, and swim ash.o.r.e.

The young yachtsman should on no account attempt to take command of a boat till he is thoroughly experienced, and should never go in one without having at least one experienced hand on board; he should also always have his eyes open to what is going on, and be ever ready to lend a.s.sistance with the greatest prompt.i.tude. Quickness and agility are the characteristics of a sailor; without these, numerous would be the losses at sea. The casting off or belaying a rope quickly, is often attended with the most important consequences, in which the losing or saving of life may be concerned; and we would therefore advise all who are emulous of being sailors, to be attentive to their duties, quick in their evolutions, and steady in all their doings.

NAUTICAL TERMS.

_Aback_, the situation of the sails when the wind presses their surfaces against the mast.

_Abaft_, towards the stern; _e.g._, abaft the mainmast, behind the mainmast.

_About_, on the other tack; going about, tacking.

_Abreast_, alongside of.

_Adrift_, broken from moorings.

_Afloat_, on the surface of the water.

_Ahead_, in the direction of the vessel's head.

_Amids.h.i.+ps_, in the middle of the vessel.

_Apeak_, when the cable is hove taut, so as to bring the vessel nearly over the anchor.

_Astern_, in the direction of her stern.

_Avast_, an order to stop.

_Athwart_, across--as "thwart hawse."

_Backstays_, ropes running from topmast and top-gallantmast to her sides.

_Ballast_, heavy materials placed in the bottom of the boat, to bring her low in the water.

_Beacon_, a post or buoy placed over a shallow bank, to warn vessels.

_Bearings_, the widest part of the vessel below the upper deck. The bearings of an object is its direction according to the points of the compa.s.s.

_Belay, to_; to make a rope fast.

_Bend, to_; is to make a sail fast to the yard, or a cable to the anchor.

_Berth_, the place where the vessel lies; a man's sleeping place on board.

_Bulwarks_, the woodworks of a vessel above deck; also the wooden part.i.tion between cabins.

_Bunting_, the woollen stuff of which s.h.i.+ps' colours are made.