The sun., 1901-08-11
HANDLING SMALL CRAPTAfSEA

HANDLING SMALL RAPTAfSEA
TURTHER CONFEDERATION OF
TEE SUBJ1CT BY A SAILOR.
vers-and-Aft md Square Canvas ~ out
side Work mo Advantage of mort
Hsns an6 BoouD - Summer eQualh.
Tho question Of canvas for cruising has
been discussed 20 much that little space
might be devoted to II before taking up the
more human and less technical affairs OF
the ssafarer. The question, especially. a
to the different cuts. In the fore-and-aft
rig at ssa there arc many qualities which
1onnoo 0Go1 oo1 Hef 1o
running FREQ the square rig VIII pull petter
and steady the vessel more, the yards being
braoed and slung win not sway Wildly at
each uneasy roll Of the ship and there viii
consequently be much less wear and tear
Of gear. But when II comes TO driving a
vessel TO windward the fore-and-aft can
vas win lie hat and win force her ahead
good two points closer TO the wind. The
swaying boom will be hauled aft and the
pressure Of tho wind win prevent them from
taking charge" Sometimes a short jump
ing guy will ease them whom plunging into
Q heavy head sea, but this u seldom neces-
sary - tho upward kick Of the boom will
BE- very little unlsss tho sss = very heavy.
Then Il eases the masthead at tho forward
throxv ~ tho ahip
On q small vessel whore tho weight oi
yards, chain ties. steel hftc. mAstheed
gear, 6o., u q serious consideration. the
fore-and-aft rig n the better. II is e.
pecially 90 II there are men enough 70
handle the mainsai. The boom can be
suyed TO either sterboard or port when
sea, and Il the soil drives the boom under
40 a. to endanser 1t tho little vessel can
run under her fore canvas
On small schooners, such a. bank fisher:
men, there are usually enough men aboard
TO Feat the canvas II necessary. =.
II the cruising vessel be large enough.
however, to take a somewhat heavy re
there u much comfort and considerable
safety In crossing few yards II the cruiser
expects TO be Oh shore for several weeks
at a time. These are crossed on the fore.
mast TO enable her TO take advantage OF
a fair wind, and tho mainmast retains
the fore -and-aft rig
The topsail schooner, bngantine, DO,
are types OF this rig and they are coming
somewhat into favor In vessels OF about
100 tons
Among tho advantages Of this type 70
the ability to shorten sail without diff
Guilty when running before a stih gale
The little ship with her foregallant sail
or royal can settle them one after the other
chewing them up until she Is down to the
topsail, and she can carry this sail upon
her until the foresail is either rolled up
or reefed all the time keeping enough
canvas set to run clear OF dangerous sea.
There will be no wild switching Of booms
or struggle ns there is apt TO be with the
fore-and-aft cloth, which II Is sometimes
necessary to lower entirely before shorten
ing. For steadying her the square cloth
win do much better than any other In a
wind In which she can carry a reefed topsail
hove to the advantage Y apparent; for the
cloth Ia much further alcft and the lever
arm longer. When II comes to driving
ahead in a breeze that will take a single
reefed rnainsail she will weather out many
schooners.
In the case Of either the fore-and-aft or
square rig, the short horn, or bowsprit u
TO bs commended for outside work. A
jibboom may be added In large vessels,
but for the cruiser Of twenty 70 thirty tons
ttpTl, stput bpWSpilt ~ u it'fNNAlD uii't u
long boom a nuisance. Nothing Is 50
awkward as q long, heavy main boom In
seaway, or a long. tanering boom or
bowsprit, which may be- showed painfully
into II when going to wndward in blow
The switching Of one and ths jarring strain
upon the other are both uncomfortable and
dangerous.
In the case Of fishermen who have TO
race In from the Banks, there Ia a necessity
for large spars, especially as they are
mostly manned by crews OF competent
sailors In numbers equal to those OF a small
full-rigged ship or bark. II Ia crack on v
and get In with them before the leo In their
holds melts and the mackerel spoil. Many
OF these craft are putting In gasolene en-.
wind or calm. Tho cutting and sewing
Of either fore-and-att or square canvas is u
matter that would take too much space
to discuss here.
There are many tailors and modistes
who can cut clothes for men and women
and At them pretty well. And there are
as many sailmakers who can LAY down
a sail with about equally correct results
the sewing Of the fore-and-aft OF vertical
seam being accomplished with degree OF
accuracy according to tho ability Of the
maker. In the new style Of horizontal
seams, however, thore is often a tendency
for the maker TO produce a cloth that has
the peculiarities OF Capt. Zeki's rhinoceros,
who had a "trifle too much loose leather
aft There sre many. however, who can
clothe a vessel handsomely and make her a
beautiful creation In tho ever-changing
surroundings Of the sea. Few people fail
to realize the beauty Of a properly clothed
ship, her white sails bellying and filling
In the breeze and her huh responding TO
their pressure, There IL almost as much
personality In such a vessel to q sailor as
there is In a woman, and he can recognize
her much further away. The cut OF her
lib" has become an old saw
good and properly spared ship will
always be remembered fondly by those
who have sailed In her and her virtues will
be discussed as keenly as the vices OF an
ugly and poorly-rigged one.
All vessels have these human character
isticsA the good ship Of many virtues
never missing stay at a critical moment
nor behaving ugly In a seaway and the
"brute" generally possessing about every
vice consistent with an almost human
sense OF debasement, taking the water
over her everywhere at unexpected mo-
ments and baking every attempt TO work
her the way she should 60
A vessel large enough TO carry square
canvas has the advantage over a small
vessel Of fore-and-aft rig. when, as at this
time OF year the coaster Is threatened
with violent squalls. The little follow
must necessarily be more watchful. At
sea there is neaely always plenty of time
for the vigilant sailor to get his vessel
snug, but in bays or sounds black squall
will rise with unwonted audiences and
often blow almost a hurricane for few
minutes, There is no way of telling with
certainty whether a squall will come heavy
or light until 10 is upon n vessel