grumpy_o_g
Well-known member
I've been browsing through some of the sailing stuff in Google Books (http://books.google.com/) lately. Amongst all the usual stuff are a number of early books that have been carefully scanned in - all free too. Absolutely fascinating and great to browse through and dip in and out of.
My favourite so far is this US seamanship manual from 1849:
from which I offer you the following gems, one of which is obviously written after sailing on the Solent on a busy weekend.
My favourite so far is this US seamanship manual from 1849:
from which I offer you the following gems, one of which is obviously written after sailing on the Solent on a busy weekend.
89. - CAT HARPEN LEGS, AND FUTTOCK SHROUDS
Take one-third the breadth of the top and lay of that distance
from the eye-seizing, down upon the shrouds, each side; draw a
line across which will represent the cat harpens, and measured
on the scale, which will give their length; splice in eyes at each end;
worm, parcel, serve and leather them. The distance from the
extremity of the top and this line upon the shroud, will give the
length of the futtock shrouds, which must have a hook and thim-
ble in their upper ends, and a thimble in their lower ends.
404. - VESSELS SURPRISED ON OPPOSITE TACKS
In cases of surprise and danger, from the accidental meeting
of two ships on opposite tacks, in the night, it too often happens
that officers are more apt to give orders to the stranger, than to
take any measure of precaution themselves; such as hailing to
put the helm up or down, and to clear them, when they may be
as much in fault, and posses the same means of extricating
themselves from the difficulty. In situations of this sort, it is
much better that both parties should put their helms down rather
than up; the ships will approach each other for a time, but will
diminish in velocity, and afterwards separate.
Obstinacy, or a want of judgement in the directing parties, fre-
quently leads both vessels to bear up at the same instant; con-
sequently causing immediate collision. It is a universal rule
with seamen, that where there is doubt, the vessel on the lar-
board tack is to bear up or to heave about, for the vessel on the
starboard tack; were this prudent regulation strictly adhered
to, and never violated by the obstinacy of parties, accidents
would seldom occur; but it sometimes happens that incidental
circumstances induce both parties to risk "a trial of skill," by
one endeavoring to weather the other. In these cases doubt and
hesitation generally prevail, and disaster is sure to follow.
Take one-third the breadth of the top and lay of that distance
from the eye-seizing, down upon the shrouds, each side; draw a
line across which will represent the cat harpens, and measured
on the scale, which will give their length; splice in eyes at each end;
worm, parcel, serve and leather them. The distance from the
extremity of the top and this line upon the shroud, will give the
length of the futtock shrouds, which must have a hook and thim-
ble in their upper ends, and a thimble in their lower ends.
404. - VESSELS SURPRISED ON OPPOSITE TACKS
In cases of surprise and danger, from the accidental meeting
of two ships on opposite tacks, in the night, it too often happens
that officers are more apt to give orders to the stranger, than to
take any measure of precaution themselves; such as hailing to
put the helm up or down, and to clear them, when they may be
as much in fault, and posses the same means of extricating
themselves from the difficulty. In situations of this sort, it is
much better that both parties should put their helms down rather
than up; the ships will approach each other for a time, but will
diminish in velocity, and afterwards separate.
Obstinacy, or a want of judgement in the directing parties, fre-
quently leads both vessels to bear up at the same instant; con-
sequently causing immediate collision. It is a universal rule
with seamen, that where there is doubt, the vessel on the lar-
board tack is to bear up or to heave about, for the vessel on the
starboard tack; were this prudent regulation strictly adhered
to, and never violated by the obstinacy of parties, accidents
would seldom occur; but it sometimes happens that incidental
circumstances induce both parties to risk "a trial of skill," by
one endeavoring to weather the other. In these cases doubt and
hesitation generally prevail, and disaster is sure to follow.
