GV 813 F6 18 78 43809

Ropes, Spars, and Sails of a Cutter, Yawl and Schooner.

NOTE.-In Sails, the lower fore corners are called the tacks, and the after corners the clews; of the sides, the upper part is the head; the lower, the foot; the fore part, the luff;

Signal Stations have been established at many conspicuous places along the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland, and similar stations, as well as Semaphores, have been erected on the coasts of many of the maritime nations of Europe; these stations have wherever practicable, means of inter-communication by telegraph wires with each other, and with the chief Telegraphic Stations of the Continent and Great Britain. No other Signals than those of the International Code are recognised.

The Colonies and India also use the International Code to the exclusion of all others.

แ

A homeward bound ship passing another ship should hoist B PW, to be reported"; and report the Distinguishing Signals given in reply.

SIGNALS

OF

DISTRESS.

do

In the day-time, whether used or displayed together or separately.

1. A gun fired at intervals of about a minute.

2. The International Code signal of distress indicated by N C

you wish

3. The distance signal, consisting of a square flag, having either above or below it a ball, or anything resembling a ball.

At night, whether used or displayed together or separately.

1. A gun fired at intervals of about a minute.

2. Flames on the ship, (as from a burning tar-barrel, oil-barrel, &c.)

3. Rockets or shells, of any colour or description, fired one at a time at short intervals.

Any Master of a vessel who uses or displays, or causes or permits any person under his authority to use or display any of the said signals, except in the case of a vessel being in distress, shall be liable to pay compensation for any labour undertaken, risk incurred, or loss sustained in consequence of such signal having been supposed to be a signal of distress, and such compensation may, without prejudice to any other remedy, be recovered in the same manner in which salvage is recoverable." (Merchant Shipping Act, 1873.)

SIGNALS

FOR

PILOT.

In the day-time, whether used or displayed together or separately.

1. The Jack or other national flag usually worn by merchant ships, having round it a white border one-fifth of the breadth of the flag, to be hoisted at the fore: or 2. The International Code pilotage signal indicated by PT

At night, whether used or displayed together or separately.

1. The Pyrotechnic light, commonly known as a blue light, every fifteen minutes; or 2. A bright white light flashed or shown at short or frequent intervals just above the bulwarks, for about a minute at a time.

Any Master of a vessel who uses or displays, or causes or permits any person under his authority to use or display, any of the said signals for any other purpose than that of summoning a pilot, or uses or causes or permits any person under his authority to use any other signal for a pilot, shall incur a penalty not exceeding twenty pounds."--(Merchant Shipping Act, 1873.)

One mast, bowsprit fitted to run out and in, and jib set flying; the chief sails are fore-and-aft mainsail, gaff-topsail, foresail, and jib.

What is a Sloop Rig?

One mast and fore-and-aft sails like a cutter, but a standing bowsprit; the foresail is set on a stay leading to the bowsprit, she sometimes sets a flying jib on a small jibboom.

What is a Yawl or Dandy Rig?

A fore-and-aft mainsail, gaff topsail, foresail, and jib, are carried as in a Cutter; in addition there is a small mizenmast stepped in the stern, upon which is set either a lug or spritsail called the mizen, the sheet of which is led to the end of a horizontal spar projecting over the stern; the foot of the mainsail is shorter to allow the boom to traverse clear of the mizenmast. The Dandy is a similar rig, but should strictly have a jib-headed mizen and no boom to the mainsail, that it may be easily brailed up by a rope passing round it.

How many shrouds on a side are usually fitted in these Rigs?

Three or four in large craft, two in small vessels.

Any other gear?

Yes, a runner and tackle with pennant on each side abaft the rigging.
What are they used for?

They act as backstays for the lower mast, and are also used for hoisting a boat or other heavy weight out or in.

To what portion of the hull is the fore stay secured?

To. the stemhead in a Cutter. In a sloop the forestay generally leads to the end of the bowsprit.

up their topmasts?

Do fore and aft vessels often house and send Yes; and for this purpose a mast or heel rope is kept rove in readiness. What precautions are generally taken to prevent the mast from falling when housed, in addition to keeping the mast-rope rove? The bight of a rope (about two or three fathoms long, with an eye spliced in each end) is seized on to an eye bolt, on the heel of the topmast; the ends of the rope are seized on to the foremast shroud of the rigging, one on each side, so that when the mast is housed, the legs form an angle of about 45° with the heel of the topmast. This is generally a fixture, sufficient drift being allowed for the mast to be housed or sent aloft, without taking the scizings off, a lashing round the heel of topmast and lower mast does just as well.

Q.

A.

Q.

A.

How is a Cutter's topmast rigging fitted?

It is cut short so that it can be set up when the topmast is lowered without putting a sheepshank in it.

Describe it.

It is led from the topmast head through a score in the outer arm of the cross trees, below which, and in the end, a thimble is spliced. From this to the channels of the rigging it is set up with a tackle. Shor lengths, called legs, fitted with clip-hooks, or shackles are used to giv the required length when the topmast is sent aloft.

Q. How is the bowsprit supported?

A.

By means of a bobstay and shrouds,

Q. How are they fitted?

A.

Q.

A.

With two single blocks, or a runner and tackle (the latter in a large vessel
Shrouds have the tackle on the inner end; bobstay, the tackle on th
outer end, with a line on the bight to trice it up with when required
The standing part of a bobstay is generally chain, that of the shroud
wire rope.

How would you reef a Cutter's bowsprit ?
Slack up all the gear.
Reeve a heel rope and heave taut upon it, and tak
out the fid. Slack the bowsprit in to the second or third fid hole, as
required, ship the fid, and then set up the gear. Some vessels are fitted
with a rack and pinion wheel, with a handle similar to that of a winch
for reefing the bowsprit.

Q. What are whiskers?

A.

Two iron rods placed on each side of the stem to extend the spread of the bowsprit shrouds in sharp bowed vessels.

Q. How are the topping lifts fitted?

A

Q.

A.

Single or double from the masthead to the boom end (in small vessels).
Describe them.

A.

Q.

The standing part is hooked on to the boom and led through a block o
thé cap at the masthead, from thence on deck, and there set up with and.
runner and tackle. Double ones are fitted with the standing part o
the cap, and led thence through a single block at the boom end and back
to a block at the cap, thence to the deck. In large Cutters a single one
is fitted on each side of the boom, and rove through a block under the
eyes of the rigging.. The lee one is overhauled slack, or unhooked, t
keep the chafe off the sail when set.

Q. How are the peak halliards rove?
A. Through two blocks on the gaff, and three at the masthead. The standing
part has a tackle on it with about 3 to 4 fathoms drift between the
blocks when overhauled, which tackle is hooked on to an eye bolt aba
the rigging and called the peak purchase. The hauling part is led from 4,
the lower block at the masthead to the deck.

Q. How is the peak line rove, and what is it used for?

A.

As a single whip through a small block at the gaff end. Used for hoisting the ensign or signals, and for hauling the gaff down.

Q. How is the luff of the mainsail bent?

A.

Bent on to hoops round the mast, or with hanks from the throat down t the third reef, from thence there is sometimes a lacing.

Q. Why?

Q. 4.