Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-25
of wind is sideways and the ship drifts
bodily to leeward.
A seamanIy Maneuver.


A seamanIy Maneuver.
Heaving to in gale is merely putting
the ship under short canvas and steering
by the wind as in beating to windward.
If she has been running before it this is
seamanly maneuver and it must not be de-
layed too long, or disaster may follow. Sail
is shortened. usually to topsails, spanker
and fore topmast staysail-to less If the gale
is fierce. Yards are braced sharp and two
men at the wheel take the command as
the last of three heavy seas breaks on the
quarter, and grind it down. Unlucky Is the
ship that loses steerage way before the bow
is brought to the seas-She may roll her
spars over the side. But, brought to sue
cessfuly, heading six points OF the WIND
(as near as she can lay) and with oil dr1b-
bling from drain pipes or floating bags, she
may wallow up and down in the same mole
and drift to leeward with fairly dry deck.
If the wind increases. sail Is taken on, 1T
tie by little. until, as is often the case,
tarpauln seized to the weather miZZen rig
ging is enough to keep the bow to the sea.
Though heaving to is last resort with
sea room, running before the gale Is the
position easiest on ships framework. The
danger is that the following seas will breach
her to in the trough, or In boarding her
damage her deck fittings and disable the
crew. Yet. while under perfect control.
ship hove to and pounding into a head sea
may start a butt "a plank end from the
violent stress and strain on her joints. and
L
one a sail may be thrummed. passed under
tho bottom and tentatively secured, while
the pumps are sounded at intervals until 1t
is known by the lowering Of the water that
the leak is covered. But leak close to the
keel or in the concave of the bow or quar-
ter cannot be stopped in this manner, and
the water gains until 1t is measured in feet.
All ensign is hoisted. union down, boats
are made ready and provisioned and the
horizon watched eagerly for rescuing
ship. Then should all hope of rescue dis
appear the ships people take to the boats,
possibly to drown in the attempt at launch
ing or to float and perhaps die of starva-
ton or thirst before they are seen.
The Troublesome Lee Shore.
A troublesome factor in a captains cal
culations Is a lee shore. No good comes Of
successfully riding out a gale. If, in doing
SO, the ship risks the embrace of jagged
rocks and breakers. Better 1.-The deep sea"
than 1.-The devil" Every West India hurri-
cane whirling up the Atlantic coast carries
a front of easterly wind that is a serious
menace to craft caught on soundings The
storm center Is coming and lee shore
threatens. 1t is an emergency which offers
alternative. The ship must be laid to
the wind and driven, to hold every inch
possible. If close in, the tack that will drift
slowest toward the shore Is prefera BILE re-
gardless of the storm center. If the wind
hauls to the southwark, and the vessel has
escaped the beach by the time 1T reaches
southwest, and she has spars and canvas
left. she may take the tack nearest her
course and sail as wind and will per-
nit: for devil and deep sea- have changed
their character The same If the wind has
hauled to the northward-the storm center
Is passing to seaward; and, confident that
he can not overtake 1t. the captain may
safely wear ship and head away from the
coast.
And if the wind does not change, but
maintains a steady and increasing violence
from seward while the barometer lowers