BOAT SAILING

77

18. Your ship is anchored in an open roadstead where there is no tide.
Your port boat is alongside. Describe how you would get her
under way and sail into the harbour, the entrance being on your
port beam, distant 2 miles.
As there is no tide, both ship and boat will be lying head to wind.
Have the yard and sail on the port side of the boat, step the mast and
clamp it. Set the sail, when it will simply shake in the wind, the
sheet being quite free.
When ready let go the boatrope (should not use the boat's painter
as that involves the necessity of hauling it in) and shove her bow off.
As she falls ofi, the sail will fill. Tend the sheet and the helm.
I should keep her heading well to windward of the entrance to allow
for leeway. That is, I should go away on the starboard tack sailing
her "full and by" when she ought to fetch in.
If on account of leeway, I found that she would not make the entrance
on the starboard tack, I should down sal! and mast and pull for it. It
would not be any use going round on to the other tack, as she would
continue to make leeway, thereby getting further from her destination.
As soon as I saw that she would not fetch in I should not hesitate to get
the oars out. The longer I delayed, the further I should have to pull.
19. What would you do when sailing a boat if a man fell overboard!
Throw him a life-buoy or something that will float, taking care
not to hit him with it. Down helm and shoot the boat's head up into
the wind; lower the sail as quickly as possible, out oars and pull hard
towards the man. The boat will be to windward of the man and, when
approaching him, have hands leaning over each bow ready to get hold
of him. When close to the man I would order "way enough," then
"hold water" with the oars so that the boat may not run the man
down.
Ships' boats are not built or rigged for handiness in manoeuvring
under sail, but should a man fall overboard from a weathexly sailing
yacht the quickest way of getting to him is to gybe and then tack
towards him.
4
20. Wind aft, man overboard, what would you do?
I would throw him a life-buoy or any loose article that might support
him. Down helm, lower the sail and pull hard towards him. The
boat will be only a short distance to leeward of the man and the boat
will reach hinfi quicker under oars than fcy manoeuvring under saiL