244 OBSEEVATIONS ON THE WINDS. 



2. "When a decided fall of the barometer, freshening rain squalls, and 

 other unmistakable signs (166) indicate the close approach of the Cyclone, 

 observe the shifts of wind very carefully to determine your position with 

 regard to the Storm track. It is sometimes best to lie-to when thus 

 observing the shifts of wind, or you may be led into serious error : a fast 

 steamer may run into the dangerous semicircle of a slow-moving Cyclone, 

 and yet get shifts of wind characteristic of the navigable semicircle. 



3. If the freshening gale remain steady in direction, you are in front of 

 the track of the advancing Storm. Square away at all hazards, and run 

 with the wind on the starboard quarter, keeping your compass course as 

 the wind shifts. If obliged to lie-to, do so on the port tack. 



4. If the wind shift to the right, you are to the right of the Storm track, 

 in the dangerous semicircle. Put the ship on the starboard tack, to head 

 the ship away from the centre, and make as much headway as possible. 

 If obliged to lie-to, do so on the starboard tack, and make all the head- 

 way you can. 



5. If the wind shift to the left, you are to the left of the Storm track, 

 and in the navigable semicircle. Bring the wind on the starboard quarter, 

 and keep your compass course if possible. If obliged to lie-to, do so on 

 the port tack, when the ship will head towards the centre, and should make 

 as little headway as possible. 



6. Any attempt to cross the Storm track is dangerous. If you decide it 

 must be attempted, crowd sail and keep the wind well on the starboard 

 quarter. 



7. In scudding, always keep the wind well on the starboard quarter, in 

 order to run out of the Storm. If obliged to lie-to, always do so on the 

 coming-up tack, so that the wind will shift aft and not take you aback. 



8. Should you get into the central calm of a Tropical Hurricane, look 

 out for a terrific squall from a point of the compass almost exactly opposite 

 to that from which the wind was blowing when it fell calm. 



9. To prevent heavy seas breaking on board, use oil, about which more 

 will be said later on. 



(186.) Meldrum's Brief Bules for Action. — 1. If the squalls freshen with- 

 out any shift of wind, you are on or near the Storm track. Heave-to on 

 the starboard tack, and watch for some indications of a shift, observing 

 the low clouds particularly. If the barometer fall decidedly, say half an 

 inch, without any shift, and if wind and sea permit, run off with the wind 

 on the starboard quarter, and keep your compass course. 



2. If the xuind shift to the right, you are to the right of the Storm track, 

 and in the dangerous semicircle. Put the ship on the starboard tack, and 

 make as much headway as possible until obliged to lie-to, which do on the 

 starboard tack. 



3. If the ivind shift to the left, you are to the left of the Storm track, 

 and in the navigable semicircle. Bring the wind on the starboard quarter, 

 and keep your compass course. If obliged to lie-to, do so on the port tack. 



4. In scudding, always keep the wind well on the starboard quarter, in 

 order to run out of the Storm. 



6. Always lie-to on the coraing-up tack. 



Experience has shown that any attempt on the part of a sailing vessel 



