The morning call., 1890-07-06
CAUTION IN SAILING.
Valuable Hints to Boys How
to Sail Boat.

0NOYS who are anxious to know how
EsasE to sail a boat will find some valuable
10y hints in the following from Caution
i'm Sailing" by F. w. Pagborn, Vice-Presi-
dent of the New York Racing Association,
published in the July number of st. Mich
olas:
You have had an agreeable fair-weather
sail, But suppose the weather is little
stormy, or the breeze tickle aud squaly.
Then you must sail under reefs. You have
noticed those rows Of little cords sewed
to the sail at intervals parallel with
the boom. Those are the reef points,
and are used to tie the sail down
when it is necessary to reduce canvas.
Never fasten them around the boom; that's
a landlubber's way, and proyokes mirth
among sailors and yachtsmen; but tie them
under the lower edge of the sail. You will
also perceive rope fastened at the outer
edge of the sail and leading through the
end of the boom. This is TO 'outhaul," or
stretch the SAIL and is the reef-pennant
blow, first set the sail at the proper
height, tie the reef-points as di-
rected, outhauling the sail with the
reef-pennant, and then set up the halyards.
The easiest way to reef boat is when at
anchor or fast to a mooring; but you will
often have to put in reef under less favor
able circumstances. In that case, slack
down the peak halyard and lower the
throat-hayard until the sail is where you
want it; then reef as before, and be lively
about it, too, or you may get into
saually weather is dangerous at
all times, and man alone in
a boat finds it all that he can do Make it
a point to know how to take a reef before
you venture out far upon the water; for the
task of ree6ng requires both practiced
hand and steady nerve.
Should you be caught by bad weather in
such fix that you cannot safely take a
reef at once lower the peak of the sail.
This will reduce the canvas, and still leave
your boat manageable. 1t does not look
pretty, but it is safe.
And now few words of caution, and you
need not be ashamed to heed them. for old
yachtsmen do just what l am about to ad-
wise you to do. 1t Is only the foolhardy
greenhorn sailor who takes chances" with
yacht. In squaliy weather never fasten
the sheet; always reef before you start, and
II the wind is very strong take two reefs.
1t is easy to shake them out" but hard
to put them in; SO reef before you
cast off. Never take ladies and children
with you in bad weather, and generally, II
you are taking out party OF that kind,
keep your boat under reefed canvas. Then,
IL emergency arises, your sacred trust Is
safe; for remember that a capsize with la
dies and children means almost certain
death to some, perhaps to ALL 1t is wise
also to have small row-boat In tow on
such occasions. for it is worth more than a
hundred life-preServers.
While sailing yacht keep your attention
strictly upon your business. A sailor must
lave eyes all around his head, aud be ready
for anything that may happen. A mo-
ment of inaitention may result in much
trouble and turn your pleasuring into a
&c 81 al
times and never lose your nerve, and you
are not likely to meet with anything really
formidable.
OF course, assume that you will have to
hire your boat, so word upon this subject
may be timely. AT every water-side resort
there are boats to let, and many of them
are nnseaworthy. Before you hire a sail
boat examine her carefully; see that her
rigging is not rotten, that every rope runs
freely in its pulleys, that her rudder is Sc
cure and her center-board free in its trunk.
Never go out in yacht which is not well
and cable, and free from leaks.
Most boats leak little, but boat
that is half full of water every day is sure
to be old, rotten and unseaworthy. See to
it that the yacht has pump, and that the
pump is in order. Any boy can determine
these matters for himself if he will be OBJ
servant and cautious. You must always
remember that almost any waterman will
rent you boat, no matter how bad she
may be; for the waterman cares more for
your money than for you. There are ex-
ceptions, but they are few. In Sc
lecting a cat-yacht try to select one that
is roomy and wide, and avoid boats with
very large sails. These latter 60 fast. but
they capsiZe quickly. A race-bOat is one
thing, -pleasnre-boat quite another.
Yachts with huge rigs are not safe, except
ing in the hands of experts, and none too
safe even when well handled. When you
have developed into a first-rate all-round
yachting man racing-boat will be q very
good thing to have, but don't hire one for
practice or pleasure sailing If you can
find no boat excepting one with a big rig
put reef in her sail, and she willthen have
all the canvas she needs for good speed,
safety and comfort