Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-08-24
How TO Sail.

One of the principal attractions which
summer resorts offer to visitors is sailing,
and nearly all summer resorts are situated
on lakes with an eye single to sailing and
money making. Among the many guests
OF these hotels, it is safe to say that large
proportion are from the interior, from
points far away from all sailing grounds
and do not know even the rudiments of
handling n sail bout. We have often
wondered, says the Milwaukee Sun, why
the landlords have not caused instructions
to be printed in pamphlet form, so that
sailing might be mastered in six easy
lessons, the same rs French and Italian
are taught. 1t is certainly to the interest
OF the hotel proprietor to keep his guests
from being drowned and being sent home
in an ice box and thus losing their patron
age. But as nothing of the kind has been
prepared. and as the Sun cannot withhold
information that it is possessed of, and see
fellow mortals going down for the last
time and no friendly hand to offer them
book on navigation and trigonometry, We
make bold to come forward and offer some
rules that should be pasted on the bottom
of every sailboat in Wisconsin, where they
can be seen and read when the boat has
capsized and they are the most needed.
We have picked up information on sailing,
mixed with weeds and mud from the bot
tom of the lake, in experiences that we
have had, that cannot but be of value to
amateur sailors. We find that there really
is only one rule to be observed in sailing a
boat TO Keep it from capsizing, and that is
never to let it lose its headway. As long
as II boat is going through the water ut a
good speed, with the center board down.
II Will never 60 over OF course, a tornado
may strike it, or you may run it under by
holding on to the ru lder and keeping he
boat "otf the wind" but you will have TO
WORK hard to do it, and the result hardly
pays for the labor you lay out Still. if it
is your nature to like to Wallow around in
the mud on the bottom of the lake, with
fifteen or twenty feet of water over you,
why "hold hard' AMI prevent the boat
from coming up in the wind. The boat
does not desire to tip ove"; /. -rar.., "
come up n the wind; bu! 1t is an accom-
modating disposition, and If you insist
upon il, it will turn right over bottom side
up But if the boat has lost its headway,
and is not moving through the water with
any perceptibe speed, too much care can
not be exercised. A breeze coming side.
ways Con the quarter) and striking a sail
that is drawn we'll aboard, under those
circumstances will be apt to tip things, and
the only thing left is to get rid of your
boots and clothing as quickly rs possible,
as they are great hndrance in swimming
long distances. Amateur sailors should
remember that when they have lost their
headway, they should paddle around so as
t. let the wind strike them aft, or very
nearly aft; then after they get under way,
the can shape their course as they desire
But the pr lctite of permitting II breeze to
strike II motionless boat on the quarter has
been productive OF untold sorrow. We
could II sail unfDld-as we have several
times, after ringing water out of it-of
the disagreabe consequences of negecting
this great truth. TO ignore it is to invite
that worst of all afflictions, hydrocephalus,
or water on the brain, as well as hydro
feet and hydro-everything Amrteurs
should be spry in tacklng, so as to resume
the thread of their discourse before the
boat loses its headway. If these instruc-
tionS are followed strictly, there is no rca.
son why any of the distinguished guests
who annually visit Wisconsin to enjoy its
henlthful atmosphere, fine sailing and fish
ing, sho nd ever get their feet weet, or 20
to bed filled full of hot rum and molasSes.
We are not in old sailor and cannot sing.
with Clpt Kidd, that I'VE murdered
William Brown rs we salled,' but we
have murdered Annie Laurie as we sailed,
and some others.