Part 38 (1/2)

[Footnote 3: 'Leeward:' When the wind crosses a s.h.i.+p's course either directly or obliquely, that side of the s.h.i.+p, upon which it acts, is called the weather-side; and the opposite one, which is then pressed downwards, is called the lee-side. Hence all the rigging and furniture of the s.h.i.+p are, at this time, distinguished by the side on which they are situated; as the lee-cannon, the lee-braces, the weather-braces, &c.]

[Footnote 4: 'Top-sails:' the top-sails are large square sails of the second degree in height and magnitude.]

[Footnote 5: 'Reef:' reefs are certain divisions or s.p.a.ces by which the princ.i.p.al sails are reduced when the wind increases; and again enlarged proportionally when its force abates.]

[Footnote 6: 'Halyards and top-bow-lines:' halyards are either single ropes or tackles, by which the sails are hoisted up and lowered when the sail is to be extended or reduced. Bow-lines are ropes intended to keep the windward-edge of the sail steady, and prevent it from shaking in an unfavourable wind.]

[Footnote 7: 'Clue-lines and reef-tackles:' clue-lines are ropes used to truss up the clues, or lower corners, of the princ.i.p.al sails to their respective yards, particularly when the sail is to be close-reefed or furled. Reef-tackles are ropes employed to facilitate the operation of reefing, by confining the extremities of the reef close up to the yard, so that the interval becomes slack, and is therefore easily rolled up and fastened to the yard by the points employed for this purpose, ver.

154.]

[Footnote 8: 'Earings:' small cords, by which the upper corners of the princ.i.p.al sails, and also the extremities of the reefs, are fastened to the yard-arms.]

[Footnote 9: 'Mizen:' the mizen is a large sail of an oblong figure extended upon the mizen-mast.]

[Footnote 10: 'Clue-garnets,' are employed for the same purposes on the main-sail and fore-sail as the clue-lines are upon all other square sails; see the note on ver. 150. It is necessary in this place to remark, that the sheets, which are universally mistaken by the English poets and their readers, for the sails themselves, are no other than the ropes used to extend the clues, or lower corners of the sails to which they are attached. To the main-sail and fore-sail there is a sheet and tack on each side; the latter of which is a thick rope serving to confine the weather-clue of the sail down to the s.h.i.+p's side, whilst the former draws out the lee-clue or lower-corner on the opposite side.

Tacks are only used in a side-wind.]

[Footnote 11: 'Helm a-weather:' the helm is said to be a-weather when the bar by which it is managed is turned to the side of the s.h.i.+p next the wind.]

[Footnote 12: 'Timoneer:' (from 'timonnier', Fr.) the helmsman, or steersman.]

[Footnote 13: 'Helm to starboard:' the helm, being turned to starboard, or to the right side of the s.h.i.+p, directs the prow to the left, or to port, and 'vice versa'. Hence the helm being put a-starboard, when the s.h.i.+p is running northward, directs her prow towards the west.]

[Footnote 14: 'Fore stay-sail:' this sail, which is with more propriety called the fore topmast-stay-sail, is a triangular sail that runs upon the fore topmast-stay, over the bowsprit. It is used to command the fore-part of the s.h.i.+p, and counterbalance the sails extended towards the stern.]

[Footnote 15: 'Yards to starboard braced:' a yard is said to be braced when it is turned about the mast horizontally, either to the right or left; the ropes employed in this service are accordingly called braces.]

[Footnote 16: 'Brails:' the ropes used to truss up a sail to the yard or mast whereto it is attached, are in a general sense called brails.]

[Footnote 17: 'Head-rope:' the head-rope is a cord to which the upper part of the sail is sewed.]

[Footnote 18: 'Robans:' rope-bands, p.r.o.nounced roebins, are small cords, used to fasten the upper edge of any sail to its respective yard.]

[Footnote 19: 'Braces slack:' because the lee-brace confines the yard so that the tack will not come down to its place till the braces are cast loose.]

[Footnote 20: 'Taught,' 'tally,' and 'belay:' taught implies stiff, tense, or extended straight; and tally is a phrase particularly applied to the operation of hauling aft the sheets, or drawing them towards the s.h.i.+p's stern; to belay, is to fasten.]

[Footnote 21: 'Rolling-tackles:' the rolling-tackle is an a.s.semblage of pulleys, used to confine the yard to the weather-side of the mast, and prevent the former from rubbing against the latter by the fluctuating motion of the s.h.i.+p in a turbulent sea.]

[Footnote 22: 'Strike top-gallant-yards:' it is usual to send down the top-gallant yards on the approach of a storm; they are the highest yards that are rigged in a s.h.i.+p.]

[Footnote 23: 'Travellers' and 'back-stays:' travellers are slender iron rings, encircling the back-stays, and used to facilitate the hoisting or lowering of the top-gallant-yards, by confining them to the backstays, in their ascent or descent, so as to prevent them from swinging about by the agitation of the vessel. Back-stays are long ropes, extending from the right and left side of the s.h.i.+p to the topmast-heads, which they are intended to secure, by counter-acting the effort of the wind upon the sails.]

[Footnote 24: 'Top-ropes:' cords by which the top-gallant-yards are hoisted up from the deck, or lowered again in stormy weather.]