Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-03

is an awkward and lubbeIly accident that
| is sometimes unpleasant il there is high
sea running.
When you are ready to tack, that is to
| take the wind on the other side, put the
helm down and bring the bow gradually
into the wind; as soon as the sails shake
let go the jib sheet, and as soon as she
! begins to fall off on the other tack meet
| her with the helm as described above and
| draw down the jib sheet on the side OPP
| pOsite to which it was before. The main
sail, as its sheet works on a traveller,
will take care of itself. l have advised
you to hold the jIb sheet in your hand,
but when it is blowing so hard that the
jib is furled, and only a reefed malnsail
is set, then hold the maInsheet in the
some way, ready to let 90 on the instant.
This matter of holding the sheet is of the
very first Importance in the sailing of
small boat. The safety of life and of
boat often depends upon this precaution
alone, and cannot be neglected without
imminent risk. Let no one ever jeer you
out of this common sense precsution on
the score of timidity. Only the ignorant
are rash IN boat sailing.
When you are going with the wind
right aft or directly with the course of
the boat. then you need to exercise
especial care, for as you do not feel the
full force of the wind you do not realize
its strength, while at the same time the
boat in stiff breeze can carry more sal
with fair wind than when lacking orl
going with side or beam wind The
mainsail is stretched out at right angles
with the length of the boat, but the
least deviation in steering may take the
sail aback and the boom and sail will
swing over to the other side. This Is
called jibing. If 1t happens through
careless steering in stiff breeze it is at
tended with great danger, for not only
may the coil of the slackened sheet or the
heavy boom carry person over or MAIN
him seriously as the sail suddenly fills
again, but, what is worse, there is great
probability that the boat will ospsize.
Put the helm up instantly should she iibe
Unexpectedly; but. better than that,
never let yourself be caught by such an
accident. In case, however, you find it
necessary to alter the course, and find il
safe to jibe loose the jib sheet, put your
helm over very gradually and pull In the
slack of the mainsheet as the sail begins
to come round. The moment it COM
mences to fill again let the main sheet
run and meet her with the helm. If it is
blowing hard, let go the peak haliards,
which reduces the spread OF the sail;
after iibing hoist the peak again. But
if 1t is blowing so hard that jibing in any
form is unsafe, then put your helm down
to leeward very slowly, and gradually
bring the boat up to the wind, drawing
in the maInsail as she comes to. Then
watch your chance in a smooth of the sea
to tack, and when she fills on the other
side keep her away and let out the main |
sheet. Again let me suggest the greatest |
caution when sailing dead before the |
wind. |
But when the wind reaches certain |
point the question comes of reducing |
sail by reetng. The mainsa1l has three |
rows of reef points, each row represent |
ing reef; the reef points are small loose |
bits of rope sewed into the sail, by which |
the part to be furlsd or reefed is tied to |
the boom. The iib may, but does not al !
ways have row of reef points, with a |
single or even two reefs taken in the |
mainsail you may carry the jib; but
when it blows hard enough to close the |
reef or take In all three reefs, the jib |
should be furled snug. A small storm
jib may be set from the stem of the boat
If you have one, but it is hardly neces-
sary in SO small a boat. A boat well !