ACCIDENTS 331
entrance. Ease her alongside the up river knuckle. Make her well
fast and heave the anchor home.
Bun a line from the starboard quarter well ahead on to the knuckle,
also one from the starboard bow to be used as a check rope when
required. This would be carried along the entrance to the lock by the
pierhead men. Spring the vessel ahead with the quarter rope until
she is half way past the knuckle and then apply the bow check and
swing her head round into the dock entrance.
If there was any floocj tide left I could help to get her round the
knuckle by running a line from my port quarter on to the down river
knuckle and taking it to the winch.
27. You are coming up a river on the flood tide Turn short round,
making use of the tide.
If the river is fairly straight, the strongest part o! the stream is
generally in mid-river That being the case I should slow down, sheer
in towards the bank on my starboard side to bring my bow into the
slacker water, and when far enough in come full speed astern with helm
amidships. The strong flood in mid-river will catch her on the star-
board quarter and swing her stern round up river, when far enough,
rudder to starboard and full speed ahead to straighten her up. Repeat
if necessary.
HOW TO RIG A SEA ANCHOR AND USE IT FOR KEEPING
A VESSEL OUT OF THE TROUGH OF
THE SEA, Etc.
The best practical sea anchor for use in moderate depths of water
is made by unshackling one of the bower anchors and paying out a
good length of the cable only. This will drag along the bottom and
keep the ship's head up towards the wind and prevent her lying in the
trough of the sea. It is easy to rig as it only necessitates the hanging
off of one anchor, and it is more efficient than any floating object could be.
For use in deep water, a sea anchor could be made as follows:—
Get a spar such as a wooden derrick or good boat spar, and lash the
luff of a staysail or trysail along it. Secure a piece of chain or other
weight at the clew. This weight must be heavy enough to make the
sail hang vertically underneath the spar in the water but not so heavy
that it will sink the spar. Rig a bridle with a good piece of rope attached
fco each end of the spar, and make the end of a hawser fast to the middle