BOATS FOR SPORTING USES. 623 



should be made fast either by sufficient turns around the cleat, or by a simple 

 draw-knot, which any boatman can show you. 



5. When the wind is very strong and puffy, pass the sheet once around the 

 cleat and hold the end in your hand. 



6. Always keep the halliards and sheets in order, by carefully coiling them so 

 that they will render from the top of the coil. 



7. Never sit to the leeward of your helm, nor allow any one else to sit where 

 their position will interfere with the free play of your tiller. 



S. Never jibe a sail when the wind is blowing freshly, unless it be a necessity. 

 If you must jibe, do so with your peak settled. 



9. Never jibe ihe sail with a sheet wide oflF. Trim in your sheet rapidly as 

 you press up your helm, take a turn around the cleat, and ease the strain when 

 the sail passes over, by letting go your sheet as your direction from the wind may 

 require. As a rule, it is better to go about. 



10. When, from a heavy sea, a boat refuses to mind her helm, and misses 

 stays, to get her on the other tack you must perform what is called wearing. 

 This is done by settling the peak of your sail, and following the directions above 

 for jibing. Once jibed, haul up your peak, trim in your sheet, and bring her on 

 her course. 



11. In heavy winds and high waves a boat will sail better, and be safer with 

 the sheet started a little. Very few boats sail well at any time, when the sheet is 

 trimmed down flat. 



12. Never luff a small boat in rough water and high wind, so as to stop her 

 way. When a puff of wind is too strong for your safety, hold the boat on her 

 course and ease off the sheet. The danger of stopping a boat under the above 

 circumstances is, that they are liable to upset when you put up your helm and 

 keep away to fill the sail again. If your boat has lost way, slack off your sheet, 

 put down your helm, and let her fall off. When she has fallen off sufficiently to 

 get a good full on the sail, up helm and trim in rapidly. 



13. Always keep an eye to windward, watching the surface of the water for 

 the approach of puffs of wind. 



14. Being overtaken by a squall, settle your sail, and tie up snugly, waiting to 

 make sail, until you have felt the weight of the squall, and know how much 

 sail to make. If the squall promises to be very severe you had better come to an 

 anchor. 



15. In reefing, take in all sail ; trim in your sheet perfectly flat and make 

 secure. Then haul out your clew with your pennant and make fast. Next tie 

 down your tack, then tie in your nettles or reef points with square knots, com- 

 mencing at either end. In shaking out a reef, the sail being down, reverse this 

 process, commencing to untie your reef points at the middle and working to the 

 end. Keep to the windward of your sail. 



16. In running off dead before the wind be careful not to jibe. If the wind is 

 heavy it is safer to run with peak settled. In rough water, running off, look out 

 that your boom, striking in the crest of a sea, does not trail aft and jibe your 

 sail. This is called tripping. To prevent this bring her more on the wind by 

 putting your helm down. If seas are liable to comb over on your quarter or 

 stern they can be broken by trailing a buoy or basket, or two oars lashed to- 

 gether , about five fathoms astern. This drag will also steady the motion of 

 your boat. 



17. Never carry sail for the sake of carrying it. 



