Wichita eagle., 1889-06-16


wouldn't want TO il we could, says The Detroit
News. 4 good way to learn to sail is to go
along with some one who knows how, to obey
his orders promptly, and then, by observa-
ton, study and inquiry, find out why at one
time you had to haul in line and at an
other to slack up on Il This can be done on
@ large yacht, If ynn hare access TO one, or on
a small saiIboat; the principles IN handling
one are precisely the same as in handling the
other; and il you once master the deas-the
reasons wty-you can apply them to fore
and aft rugged vessel OF any size But 1t Is
not wise thing for any one 10 attempt to
handle ever 50 small craft under sail with
neither any experience nor any idea Of the
forces be has TO contend with
It is doing this which causes the occasional
nccidents ON river and lake
The various rigs in common use on fresh
water are:
The single cat
Double cat
Sloop.
Cutter.
Yawl
Schooner
The single cat has only one mast and one
sail, and, because of the simplicity Of rig, is
the best one for beginner to start IN with.
Il has centerboard Tor standing keel, as
should every boat propelled by sails, because
without either OF these It is practically i'm
pozs-iie TO beat to wind,vard.
If Il boat were made perfectly round like a
tub, and had no center board, it would only
60 il one direction, namely: before the wind,
or III the direction towards which the wind is
blowing. A sail boat cannot be made to so
directly against the wind, but IL is the
province of the designer, the builder, the sail
maker and the sailing master to make II go
as near the wind as possible.
Within four points Of the compass is the
practical limit, though the Volunteer, the
most weatherly yacht In the world, points N
smooth water as high as three and half
To get back 80 the cat boat The mast is
stepped very close 10 the stem, and according
TO the size the sail may be stretched by means
of spirit leading up TO the upper and outer
corneP-the peak--or by means OF a gaf to
hoist and lower. The tyro who essays to sail
the cat boat should steer and hold the sheet
rope in his hand; If he has a companion, let
him act as ballast.
Safety Is the first consideration, and the
beginners should learn TO keep boat on her
bottom first and TO get fast time out Of her
afterwards.
So much for the cat boat, the sailing of
which is almost simplicity itself.
Then comes the double cat, the next
simplest rig. In this rig there are two mastS
and two sails. each rugged like the sail in the
single cat. The foresail Is generally larger
than the mainSal IA missioner II this easel
and is the principal driving sail Here there
are TWO forces at work, one in the fore and
the other in the after body Of the boat IL
comphcates things somewhat, but gives the
Young sailor better control of the boat II
the fore sheet is hauled in close and the main
sheet Stacked of the head of the boat viii
pay of from the wind; and Il the main sheet
is hauled in flat and the fore sheet Stacked OF,
the head OF the boat win be thrown up
towards the wind, and, with the helm down,
she viii go in stays, maneuver which viii
be described in speaking of the sloop.
Getting towards larger boats, the double
cat is safer than the single cat They should
have two rigs, and the beginner should al
ways sail the boat with the small rig. no
matter how light the wind or pleasant the
weather. In this, as in the single cat, the
sheets should never be made fast.
The sloop, when modified with the double
head canvas Of the cutter Jas is the case with
the modern compromise sloop CUTTER, makes
the most effective racing rig.
In speaking OF the sloop, only one head sail
will be considered. This is properly called
the jib, though sometimes misnamed the
staysail. Here first comes into notice the
bowsprit, for which there is no use on the
single or double cat Its purpose is TO extend
the jib far enough cupboard forward TO bal
ance the mainsail, which extends cupboard
aft
In small sloops the iib sheets should always
extend aft 50 as 10 make the boat, if desira-
tie, single handler. For proper handling,
however. u sloop should have a crew Of st
least four men-one 10 steer, one TO tend
main sheet, one 70 trim Jlb sheets and another
- work forward clearing up.
NOW AS TO HANDLING THE sLOOP.
If YOU are lying at anchor in place where
there is nocurrent, make on your mainsail,
heave your anchor short, thai is, SO that the
chain or rope holding it is up and down.
Make up your mind which way you want 10
''cast," that A., on which side you want the
yacht TO III away. Don't leave II 70 chance
or TO iiicA', buI choose sides AID make It come
your way. Il you conclude to cast TO port
that viii be taxing the wind on the sta-board
sde-put your helm 70 starboard, catch &
turn yourself with the starbosrd weather
tib sheet, have one man stand ready to run
up the Jlh, another TO break the anchor on
the word, and have the main sheet man push
the main boom over to port.
This viii throw the stern of the boat up TO
the wind somewhat, then break anchor and
up jib.
As soon as she pays OF and fills away trim
you tib 10 ieessgrd port side now. get some