RIGGING AND SAILS. INTRODUCTORY NOTE.-For convenience of description, it has been found necessary to select some The author is aware that there is great difference of opinion among yachtsmen concerning the best PLATE I.-STANDING AND RUNNING RIGGING, SPARS, ETC. 52. Quarter timber-heads. And for the starboard One, Port bow.-Two, Port beam.-Three, Port quarter. side of the vessel, starboard bow, beam, and quarter. HANDLING A CUTTER YACHT. Preparations for Getting Under Way.—Take off the sail covers. Loose the main-sail; hook the main and peak-halliards; man the topping-lifts and top up the boom, one hand overhauling the mainsheet to allow the boom to rise. Man the main and peak-halliards and hoist away, observing that the ensign-halliards are clear; with double topping-lifts enter the gaff between them as the sail goes up. Get the throat well up first, and then sweat up the peak; belay the halliards, and finish the setting by the purchase. Set up the runners and tackles; haul taut and belay the mainsheet, coil down the slack of it and capsize the coil clear for running. Clear away the deck aft of all spare gear. If the gaff top-sail is to be set, send it aloft after the main-sail is set, and before touching the head-canvas. If only one top-sail sheet is fitted, be careful to send up the sail on the proper side of the gaff. Bend on the halliards about one-third the length of the yard from the fore end, and the sheet to the clew of the sail, observing to have both clear of the topping-lifts. Lash a small tail-block on the fore-end of the yard, through which reeve a light clew-line, making the standing part fast to the clew of the sail, and having the fall lead on deck. Hook a tack-tackle on to the tack and sway aloft, keeping the sheet clear of the gaff as it goes up. When chock up, belay the halliard and get the tack down by the tackle; if there is a lacing, have it passed round the top-mast and mast-head; round in the top-mast stay till the top-mast has a slight rake forward, and then sheet home the top-sail. Thus, having set the after-canvas, proceed to clear the groundtackle. If riding to single anchor, heave short, and as the cable comes in, have a hand at the stem-head to cleanse it before it enters the hawse-hole. If riding to moorings, cast the bridle off the bitts, take a turn there with the buoy-rope, and, passing it under the bowsprit shrouds and head-sheets, stream it and hang on by the bight of the buoy-ropc. Slack the top-mast stay and get the bobstay well down, then ease the top-sail sheet and get the top-mast forward again, after which sheet home the sail. |