The kedge-anchor

271.—GETTING UNDER-WEIGH.

See that the hawse is clear; overhaul a range of the weather cable—get up nippers—pass the messenger—knock up the stanchions—ship the gratings—ship, and swifter-in the capstan bars—rig the fish-davit—overhaul cat and fish; and call “all hands unmoor ship.”

When the cable grows with the angle of the main-stay, the ship is said to ride at a “long stay;” when it grows with the angle of the fore-stay, the ship is said to be at a “short-stay.” When perpendicular, the phrase is “up and down.” From one or other of the two last mentioned positions, sail is generally made in getting under-weigh.

If from the nature of the ground, or strength of the wind, there should be any probability of dragging the anchor, sail is generally made from a “short stay.” In such a case, particular attention ought to be paid that the head yards be not braced too sharp a-box; for the object being to cant the ship with the least possible sternway, the sooner the head sails lift or fill the better. The jibs are hoisted the instant they will take. If, after all, the ship drags her anchor, you can pall the capstan—stopper over all, brace round the head yards, and force her a-head by the sails, as far as may be necessary; then back the head yards, lay-to, and get the anchor up.

If there should be so much wind and sea, as to make it a matter of difficulty to get the anchor, but plenty of sea-room, brace the yards a-box, according to the tack you wish to go upon, and get the anchor up and secured before making sail. In moderate weather, and ordinary circumstances, sail is generally made when the cable is “up and down.” Sometimes a stern-board is necessary, with the anchor dragging on the ground; at other times, a tack must be made in that position.

A Schooner-of-War, getting under weigh.

If riding by the starboard cable, and no impediment to port, it will be the most eligible method, to cast her on the starboard tack, as the cable will then be clear of the cutwater, and the ship being to leeward of the anchor, it can be more easily catted and fished. If there should be much sea on, this would be the best plan.

Having determined to cast on the starboard tack, overhaul the lifts, trusses, and backstay-falls. The fore-topsail being put aback, by the starboard braces; the main and mizen by the wind, with larboard after braces, heaving around briskly, and before breaking ground, give her a shear with the starboard helm; when up, hoist the jib, keeping the helm a-starboard, until the stern-board exceeds the velocity of the tide, when shift it, grapple the buoy, and cat the anchor. When she has fallen off, so as to fill the after sails, let flow the jib-sheet, haul out the spanker, set top-gallant sails and courses, and trim the yards and sails properly.

To cast off on the larboard tack, put the helm a-port, and brace the yards the contrary way.

272.—WHEN THE MESSENGER STRANDS, OR IS LIKELY TO PART.

If the messenger is likely to part, from the great strain upon it, stopper immediately, and either pass a new one, or reeve a viol purchase, assisting it with the cat-fall. Lash the viol block to the cable near the hawse-hole; clinch one end of the hawser to the main-mast, snatch the bite in the block, and take the other end to the capstan. To assist the viol, pass a strap round the cable, close down to the water, to which hook the cat-fall, and heave up on both purchases.

If the messenger should strand, stopper immediately, cut it, and then knot or splice it.

273.—TO GET UNDER-WEIGH AND STAND BEFORE THE WIND.

Make all preparations for getting under-weigh, heave-in, and make sail as before. Lay the main and mizen topsails square aback; the fore one sharp aback, according to the side it is intended to cast—heave-in, cant her the right way with the helm before tripping, and as soon as the velocity of the stern-board is greater than that of the tide, shift the helm, grapple the buoy, run up the jib as soon as it will take, and haul aft the weather-sheet. While falling off, cat and fish the anchor; as she gathers head-way, shift the helm; when before the wind, right it—square the head yards, and brail up the jib—set topgallant sails, royals, and foresail—haul taut the lifts, trusses, backstay-falls, and if necessary, set the studding-sails.

274.—IN GETTING UNDER-WEIGH, TO BACK ASTERN AND AVOID DANGER.

Make all preparations as before. If required to cast on the starboard tack, sheer her with the starboard helm; to bring the wind on the starboard bow, brace the yards aback, about half-way up with the larboard braces; haul out the spanker and keep the boom nearly amid-ships. Heave up briskly, grapple the buoy, and as soon as the anchor is up, put the helm hard a-weather to keep her to—cat and fish the anchor. Having made sufficient stern-board, shift the helm, brace the after yards, ease off the spanker sheet, and run up the jib. When full aft, brace up the head yards, and as she gathers headway, right the helm and make sail. To cast on the larboard tack, sheer her with the port helm, brace all sharp aback, and proceed as before.

275.—GETTING UNDER-WEIGH—A SHOAL ON EACH BEAM.

It becomes necessary to proceed to sea, and is impossible to weather either of those a-beam; but there is just room to pass between a shoal astern, and either of those a-beam, with the wind blowing fresh.

Pass the stream cable out of one of the quarter ports; bend on one end to the cable, and secure the other to the topsail sheet-bitts; draw the splice⁠[28] of the cable, bend a slip-buoy to it, and heave it overboard. See the stoppers clear for slipping; stop the topsails to the yards with spun-yarn, casting off the gaskets. Loose the courses, jib, and spanker—mast-head the topsail-yards—man the jib-halliards—sheer her from the cable with the helm—slip and run up the jib—keep fast the stream-cable, and let her swing round. When she heads for the passage, slip the stream-cable, right the helm, sheet home the topsails, set the courses, and other sails if necessary; then stand through the passage.

276.—GETTING UNDER-WEIGH IN A NARROW CHANNEL.

At anchor in a narrow channel, riding to a strong leeward tide, and blowing fresh; a ship astern, and also one on each quarter, so near that there is not room to wear, for casting; it is necessary to put to sea, and to do so a passage must be effected between the two ships.

Make all preparations for getting under-weigh, and heave-in as described before. Loose the topsails; if riding by the star-board cable, give her a rank sheer with the starboard helm; set up the starboard backstays, and bear aft the larboard ones; overhaul lifts and trusses; haul out the spanker, and get the boom over on the larboard quarter; lead along the main tack and sheet; run up the jib, and haul aft the weather sheet; “Heave round cheerily;” run the anchor up, grapple the buoy, and as soon as she fills, meet her with the helm; board the main tack to catch her; trim the jib and spanker sheets, set the foresail, and trim sharp; haul taut the bowlines; stand on as far as may be necessary.

277.—HEAD TO WIND, CAST ON STARBOARD TACK.

Everything having been previously prepared, heave in and make sail as before. Sheer her with a starboard helm; brace the head yards sharp up with the starboard braces, and counter brace the after ones; haul out the spanker, and get the boom on the larboard quarter; heave in, and up anchor; up jib as soon as it will take; and when the stern-board exceeds the velocity of the tide, shift the helm. When the after sails are full, trim the spanker, let flow the jib sheet, cat and fish the anchor, haul aft the jib sheet, brace round the head-yards, and make sail.

278.—WINDWARD TIDE—GET UNDER-WEIGH AND STAND BEFORE THE WIND.

Make all preparation for getting under-weigh, heave in, loose jib, up anchor, grapple the buoy, run up the jib, cat and fish the anchor, and make sail with expedition.

If it is necessary to have the ship under greater command, as might be the case in a narrow channel, or crowded harbor, it would be better to proceed as follows:—

Heave in to a “short stay,” loose the courses, topsails, jib and spanker. If riding by the starboard cable, sheer her with the starboard helm, and bring the wind on the larboard quarter; brace the yards to, by the larboard braces, and keep them shivering by the helm. “Heave up;” fill the after yards, and square the head ones; haul aft jib sheet on starboard tack; cat and fish the anchor; up helm; fill the head yards, shiver the after ones, get her before the wind, and make sail.

279.—TO GET UNDER-WEIGH, AND STAND OUT ON A WIND.

Make all preparations—commence heaving in; loose jib and spanker; top up and bear over the boom on the right quarter, and the helm to the side which it is intended to cast; “heave up;” get the buoy; haul out on the spanker as soon as it will take. When the wind gets abeam, run up the jib, and meet her with the helm; cat and fish the anchor; loose, sheet home, and hoist the topsails, brace up, bring by and make sail.

280.—RIDING HEAD TO TIDE, WIND ON THE STARBOARD QUARTER, TO GET UNDER-WEIGH ON THE STARBOARD TACK.

Make all preparations, heave short, loose sails, sheet home and hoist the topsails, bracing them to with the starboard braces; keep them shivering, by the assistance of the topsails and helm,—“heave round,”—break ground—put the helm a-starboard—brace full the head yards—run up the jib, and let her pay round to port; heave up the anchor, and grapple the buoy. Haul out the spanker as soon as it will take—shift over the head sheets, and square the head yards—trim aft the jib-sheet, and meet her with the helm. Cat and fish the anchor, and make sail as necessary.

281.—GETTING UNDER-WEIGH—WIND ACROSS THE TIDE.

In getting under-weigh, say ebb-tide, make all preparations, loose, sheet home, and hoist the topsails; brace up the fore and mizen topsails, and lay the main yard to the mast. Give her a spoke or two of the lee wheel, so as to take the main-topsail well aback. “Heave up,” cat and fish the anchor, and grapple the buoy; at the same time, set the jib and spanker—fill the main yard, stand on to a convenient place, and then tack or veer.

The evolution is determined by the circumstance of there being more room to windward or to leeward.

Flood-Tide.—Proceed as before, until the anchor is catted and fished; then hoist the jib, haul out the spanker, fill the main-topsail, and stand out, making whatever sail may be judged necessary.

282.—TO BACK AND FILL IN A TIDE-WAY.

This manœuvre is only executed when a ship is to proceed up or down a rapid river against the wind, which is supposed to be light, and may be done by two methods, viz., driving before the wind, or broadside to it. When the channel is broad enough, the latter method is preferable, as the ship will be more under the command of her helm.

283.—DRIVING BEFORE THE WIND.

This is only done in a very narrow channel. Heave up the anchor, and get her before the wind, with just sail enough to keep her so. Suppose her under topsails, and as she drops with the tide, it becomes necessary for her to remain stationary, to allow a ship to pass her stern,—set topgallant-sails, and if required to shoot ahead, drop the foresail. If to avoid a rock, or ship astern, put the helm up or down—haul out the spanker—brace up, and haul aft the jib-sheet, as she comes to; shoot across until clear of danger, when put the helm up, brail up the spanker, shiver the after yards, and when before the wind, brail up the jib. If in standing across, she should get too near the shore—get her on the other tack, by wearing or box-hauling.

284.—DRIVING BROADSIDE-TO.

Get under-weigh, and bring her by the wind under the jib, topsails, and spanker; shiver the topsails; when filled, stand on to the middle of the channel; brail up the jib and spanker, and let her drift in this situation until she falls off, which she will soon do, owing to her greater immersion aft than forward, which will drift her stern farther to windward. Haul out the spanker, and if this is insufficient, back the mizen-topsail; if she still falls off, back the main also, both square aback, and if she should get a stern-board, put the helm hard a-weather; should she come-to again, shiver the topsails, and brail up the spanker, letting her drift as before.

285.—SECURING THE SHIP FOR SEA.

Take the departure, give the course, and make sail. Beat to quarters—examine the magazine—load, shot, and secure the guns—see that all the gear of the guns is ready for service, and secured. Fill the shot-boxes, rack, and wad-nets—get the anchors on the bows, and lash them—unbend the cable and buoy-ropes; if clean and dry, pay them below; also the messenger, hawsers, stoppers and nippers, and cable-mats, put in the buckles—unreeve, cat and fish, and coil them away below. Get chafing-mats on the yards and rigging—see the booms and boats secured, pumps in good order, and the gratings and tarpaulins ready for putting on. Overhaul the storm-staysail gear, see everything ready for service, and stow it below again.

286.—STOWING THE ANCHORS FOR SEA.

The anchors being catted and fished, clap a stout tackle on them and cat-head stoppers; pass a good lashing through the ring and over the cat-head—expend the stopper in the same way. Hook the pendant-tackle to a strap around the shank—weigh the crown, and bouse the fluke into the bill-port by a thwartship tackle; having another tackle clapt on the end of the anchor-stock which is uppermost, getting it as close to the side as the stock will permit; pass stout shank-lashings also around the stock and cat-head. Unbend the cable and buoy-rope.

287.—SETTING TOPGALLANT SAILS—BLOWING FRESH.

Point the yards to the wind, and loose the sails; sheet home first to leeward, and then to windward—having a hand to leeward to light the foot over the topmast stay; hoist away, trim the yards, and haul taut the bow-lines.

288.—SETTING COURSES.

Moderate weather.—Man the fore and main-tacks and sheets, attend the rigging—have hands on the lower yards to overhaul it—haul aboard—check the top bow-lines, weather lower lifts, and a little of the lee-main-brace—avast the sheets; get the tacks close down, and then haul aft the sheets—haul taut the main-brace, lifts, trusses, and bowlines.

Blowing fresh.—Man well the sheets, overhaul the leech-lines and lee-bunt-lines; ease down the lee-clew-garnet, slack top bowlines, lower lifts, and lee-main-braces, until the tacks are down; then haul aft the sheets, haul taut the lee-main-brace, weather lifts and bow-lines, and, if necessary, hook and haul taut the rolling-tackle, to ease the trusses.

289.—SETTING THE SPANKER.

Top-up the boom, overhaul lee-topping-lifts, attend the sheets and weather-guy; haul over the lee-guy, and trim the boom—man the outhaul and attend the brails and vangs—let go the brails, haul out and steady the gaff by the vangs.

290.—SETTING THE JIB.

Cant the spritsail-yard to steady the boom; man the halliards and sheet—see the downhaul and brails clear, take in the slack of the sheet to steady the sail; “hoist away;” and as the sail goes up, ease off the sheet—when taut up, haul aft the sheet.

291.—SETTING LOWER STUDDING-SAILS.

When the boom is out or a-thwartships, and trimmed with the fore yard, the outer halliards and outhauler are to be well manned, taking in the slack of the inner halliards, as the sail goes over the gunwale, and ultimately reaches its destined height. In running away with the lower halliards, care must be taken that the yard be not brought up with a jerk, against the topmast studding-sail boom; by this sudden jerk booms are liable to be sprung.

292.—SHIFTING A COURSE AT SEA.

Moderate weather.—In shifting a course at sea, with the watch, and with time to prepare everything for a smart and pretty evolution—get the spare sail up from below, and first of all stretched across the deck. Then, the course being set, stopper the (tack and sheet) clews, and unbend tacks, sheets, clew-garnets, and leech-lines, bending them forthwith to the spare sail; and, when done, untoggle the bowlines, and send the hands aloft—trice up, lay out, cast off robins and earings, and make the two midship robins fast to the bunt-lines—ease in the earings together, and make them also fast to the buntlines a-midships. Lower the sail by the bunt-lines, and gather it in by hand. Unbend the bunt-lines, bend them to the spare sail, and take out the yard-ropes.

Divide the watch to the yard-ropes, bunt-lines and clew-garnets, and haul taut; haul out and up all together—hands aloft, bring-to, and when brought-to, haul on board.

Blowing fresh.—First haul the sail up and furl it; then proceed to make fast the midship robins and earings (when cast off) to the bunt-lines, and to lower the sail down by the clew-garnets, as well as buntlines.

293.—TAKING IN A COURSE IN A GALE OF WIND.

Steady the yard as securely as possible, man the clew-garnets, bunt-lines, and leech-lines; ease away the tack and bow-line—haul up to windward, ease off the sheet, haul up, get the sail close to the yard, and furl it.

It is a common practice in clewing-up a course, to let go the bowline upon starting the tack. Neither the tack nor the bow-line should be let go, but each eased off handsomely by hand. By the adoption of this plan, the sail will bag less to leeward, and the weather-clew can be hauled up with greater ease; but both buntlines should be well manned, and even better manned, than the weather clew-garnet. When the latter gear is well up, walk away with the clew-garnet, easing steadily the sheet. But all these precautions will be of little avail, unless there be a good preventer-brace upon the lower yard; or else the yard tackle be hooked to act as such, and brought sufficiently aft to prevent the tackle bringing too great a strain in an up-and-down position upon the upper yard-arms.

294.—TAKING IN A TOPSAIL IN A GALE OF WIND.

Steady well the topsail and lower yards, rounding in the weather topsail brace as much as possible. Man the clewlines and buntlines; attend the sheets and bowlines; clew up the lee-sheet, and haul up the buntline. If to save the yard, haul up to leeward first, point the yard to the wind, and steady it again; lay out and furl the sail.

There appears to be still a dispute among seamen as to the preferable method of effecting this service.

When the mast is not considered in danger, and the object be to save the sail, or to ease the ship, the weather clew may be first lifted. But before starting the weather sheet, it would be well to ease first a few feet of the lee-sheet, in order to lessen the labor of rounding in the weather brace. So soon as the lee-sheet be sufficiently eased to admit of the yard coming in with the weather brace, and both buntlines be as well manned as the weather clewline, the weather sheet may be then eased off, and the weather clewline hauled up, with every prospect of saving the sail.

If there be plenty of sea room, and the ship can be kept away, some officers recommend the practice of bringing the wind abaft the beam, and then hauling up the lee-clewline first—taking the precaution to have both buntlines well manned. When this operation is effected, the weather clewline may be hauled up, rounding the brace in, as the ship is again gradually brought to the wind. It will require particular attention to the helm when hauling up the weather clewline, though with judicious management, the helm alone is sufficient to spill the sail.

295.—TAKING IN TOP-GALLANT SAILS.

Man the topgallant clewlines; lay aloft, and stand by to furl the sail; attend the braces, bowlines, sheets, and halliards; round in the weather braces, ease away the lee-sheet and halliards; “lower away;” ease away the weather sheet, clew up, haul up the buntlines; steady the yard, lay out and furl the sail.

296.—TAKING IN A SPANKER.

Have the brails and weather vang well manned; attend the outhaul and lee vang; ease away the outhaul; haul over on the weather vang; brail up to leeward; ease off the sheet; haul taut the weather brails; pass the foot gaskets; steady the gaff, and crutch the boom.

297.—SETTING A CLOSE-REEFED TOPSAIL.

Point the yard to the wind, and brace the lower yard a little sharper than the topsail yard. Man the sheets, attend the buntlines, and loose the sail; overhaul the lee-buntline, ease down the lee-clewlines, and haul home the lee-sheet; ease off the weather buntline; at the same time slack down the weather clewline, and haul home the weather sheet. Hoist the yard up clear of the cap; brace up, and haul the bowline; steady the lower and topsail yards with the braces and rolling-tackles.

298.—A CLOSE-REEFED TOPSAIL SPLITS.

Clew up the sail and steady the yard; cast off some of the rope-bands, so as to pass stops around the sail to secure it. Unbend the sheets, bowlines, and lee-buntlines; unreeve lee-clewline and reef-tackle; bend the weather buntline round the sail, and make the lee-earing fast to the buntline; hook a burton to a strap round the sail, cast off all the rope-bands, and lower away; ease away the weather earing and lower the sail on deck. Stretch along the new sail, overhaul it, then reef the sail at the foot, commencing at the close reef, and taking in each of the three lower reefs separately; then bight it down, and send it aloft, as described before, observing to use the burtons before all. Reeve and bend the gear, stopping the head of the sail to the buntlines; have yard-jiggers hooked to bring the sail to the yard—pass the earings and rope-bands, in the same manner; bring the first reef to the yard, cast out the other reef, haul up the sail; then bring the reefs to the yard alternately, after which set the sail as before.

299.—A JIB SPLITS.

Mind the weather helm, haul the sail down, and hoist the fore-topmast-staysail. Hitch the downhaul around the body of the sail, and also pass stops around it—take the end of a rope from the forecastle, and bend it on to haul in by. Turn out the jib-stays, bend a line on to the end and unreeve it—haul taut the halliards—ease off the downhaul, and haul in. Get up, and overhaul the spare sails; seize on the sheet, bend the halliards and downhaul—stop the sail, and haul out by the downhaul and halliards—reeve the jib-stay, turn it in, and set it up; pass the tack-lashings, reeve the brails, set the jib, and haul down the staysail.

300.—TO WEAR SHIP UNDER CLOSE-REEFED MAIN-TOPSAIL AND STORM-STAYSAILS.

Call all hands “wear ship,” and station them; have lifts, trusses, and rolling-tackles attended, so the yard and topmast may be well supported in the heavy rolling which they are likely to experience. Haul down the mizen storm-staysail, and when she falls off, up helm; ease off the main storm-staysail sheet, and brace in the main and cross-jack yards; at the same time taking care to keep the maintopsail full, to preserve the head-way, and to keep her a-head of the sea; also to keep it from splitting. When the wind is on the quarter, haul down the main storm-staysail, and shift over the sheet; when before the wind, right the helm, and square the head yards; shift over the fore storm-staysail sheet; watch for a smooth time to bring-her-to; then ease down the helm, hoist the mizen storm-staysail, and when the wind is on the quarter, brace up the yards, hoist the main storm-staysail, haul aft the fore storm-staysail sheet, meet her with the helm, trim the sails, and haul the maintop-bowline.

301.—WEARING UNDER A MAINSAIL.

Make fast a hawser to the slings of the main yard, take it down forward of the sail, haul it well taut, and belay it to the topsail sheet bitts. Call all hands and station them as in the last case; take advantage of her falling off to put the helm up. Ease off the main sheet, and gather in the lee tack, using the yards as in ordinary cases. Should she not go off, send down the cross-jack yard, and mizentopsail yard; house the topmast, and get a drag over the lee quarter, after which proceed as before in bracing the yards, and bring by the wind.

302.—WEARING UNDER BARE POLES.

Send down the after yards and mizen topmast, and bend a hawser to it in-board. Send men in the weather fore rigging with tarpaulins; up helm, and make use of the yards as usual.

If she should not go off, it will be necessary, as a last resort, to cut away the mizen mast, veer away the hawser, and use the mizen topmast as a drag to assist in wearing.

303.—CUTTING AWAY THE MASTS.

Clear away all the running rigging attached to the mast, cut away the lanyards of the lee rigging; then the lanyards of the stays and weather rigging.

304.—LAYING-TO UNDER LOWER STAYSAILS, WEAR SHIP.

If it does not blow too fresh, the close-reefed mainsail may be set, as some lofty sail is necessary, to prevent the ship from being pooped; then proceed as in veering under bare poles. If she should not go off, clap a lashing round the bunt of the foresail, and set the weather goose-wing. Should she still not go off, send down the after yards and mizen topmast, making a drag of them. If they have no effect, cut away the mizen mast.

Scale-draft of a First Class Ship-of-the-Line, two decks.