Two Years Before The Mast - I

(Wiki) (movie - 1946) (Audiobook)

Two Years Before The Mast - I (Pages 1 -  8)

Nautical Terms:

To name a sail, first name the mast, then the sail by its position on the mast.  So Mainsail, Mainroyal, etc.

The Masts in order, from bow to stern of a ship:

Fore-mast
Main-mast
Mizzen-mast









"Singing out at the sheets" - "Heave" - "Ho"  A sheet is a rope, attached to the clew [The lower corners of square sails or the corner of a triangular sail at the end of the boom], used to control the setting of a sail in relation to the direction of the wind. The sheet is often passed through a tackle before being attach to fixed points on the deck.

Staysails are named by the mast and mast section on which they are hoisted. Thus, the staysail hoisted on a stay that runs forward and downwards from the top of the mizzen topgallant mast is the mizzen topgallant staysail. If two staysails are hoisted to different points on this mast, they would be the mizzen upper topgallant staysail and the mizzen lower topgallant staysail.

Jibs: Schooners typically have up to three jibs. The foremost one sets on the topmast forestay and is generally called the jib topsail, a second on the main forestay is called the jib, and the innermost is called the staysail. Actually, all three sails are both jibs and staysails in the generic sense.

Original usage in 18th and 19th century square-rigged ships distinguished between the fore staysail, set on the forestay running from the foremast head to the ship's peak, the foremost part of the hull, and the jibs set on stays running to the bowsprit. Jibs, but not staysails, could also be "set flying," i.e. not attached to the standing rigging. Sails set beyond the peak were typically called jibs, set on stays running from the fore topmast to the bowsprit, or the fore topgallant mast to the jibboom or even the fore royal mast to the flying jibboom. A large square-rigged ship typically has four jibs.

From forward to aft, these sails are called:
Flying jib
Outer jib
Inner jib
Fore (topmast) staysail

Bowpsirit

Bowsprit of Falls of Clyde,
showing a downward pointed dolphin striker,
chain bobstays, and three furled jibs

Bowsprit, Jib-boom and Spar

A diagram of the three spars and some of the rigging that can make up a bow: 

A.) Bowsprit, 

B.) Jib-boom, 

C.) Flying jib-boom, 

D.) Jibstay. 

E.) Fore Topgallant Stay, 

F.) Flying Jibstay, 

G.) Fore Royal Stay, 

H.) Topmast stays, 

I.) Outer Forestay, 

J.) Inner Forestay




Downhaul

Windlass

Knight-heads

Bulkhead - Interior walls of a ship other than a hull itself, originally designed to make storing cargo easier.

Athwart - across from

Hawse - cable or thick roap leading to the anchor

Headsails - collectively, the jibs

Studding Sails - an extra sail hoisted alongside a square-rigged sail on an extension of its yardarm. It is named by appending the word studding to the name of the working sail alongside which it is set (e.g. "fore topsail studdingsail").  These sails provide extra speed in fine weather

Reefing the Sails - is the means of reducing the area of a sail, usually by folding or rolling one edge of the canvas in on itself. The converse operation, removing the reef, is called "shaking it out." Reefing improves the performance of sailing vessels in strong winds, and is the primary safety precaution in rough weather. Reefing sails improves vessel stability and minimizes the risk of damage to the sail or other gear.

Heave To - Fixing the sails and rudder so that the force of the wind is cancelled out by the drag of the keel and the direction of the rudder (which is fixed by lashing the wheel in place).   It is meant to stop and keep the boat in place.  It is effective in heavy weather. 

Reefing the Sails - is the means of reducing the area of a sail, usually by folding or rolling one edge of the canvas in on itself. The converse operation, removing the reef, is called "shaking it out." Reefing improves the performance of sailing vessels in strong winds, and is the primary safety precaution in rough weather. Reefing sails improves vessel stability and minimizes the risk of damage to the sail or other gear.

Heave To - Fixing the sails and rudder so that the force of the wind is cancelled out by the drag of the keel and the direction of the rudder (which is fixed by lashing the wheel in place).   It is meant to stop and keep the boat in place.  It is effective in heavy weather.

Slip Anchor - To slip anchor usually means that the anchor chain and anchor are released from the windlass that raises and lowers it. Thus the anchor is abandoned.  If the hawse has been attached to a buoy, then the anchor may later be recovered or used to remoor the ship.

Sea Tales - Dress, Preparation to sail, Watch Duty

THE fourteenth of August was the day fixed upon for the sailing of the brig Pilgrim, on her voyage from Boston, round Cape Horn, to the Western coast of North America. As she was to get under way early in the afternoon, I made my appearance on board at twelve o'clock, in full sea-rig, with my chest, containing an outfit for a two or three years' voyage . . .

The change . . . to the loose duck trousers, checked shirt, and tarpaulin hat of a sailor, though somewhat of a transformation, was soon made ; and I supposed that I should pass very well for a jack tar. But it is impossible to deceive the practised eye in these matters ; and while I thought myself to be looking as salt as Neptune himself, I was, no doubt, known for a landsman by every one on board as soon as I hove in sight. A sailor has a peculiar cut to his clothes, and a way of wearing them which a green hand can never get. The trousers, tight round the hips, and thence hanging long and loose round the feet, a super abundance of checked shirt, a low-crowned, well-varnished black hat, worn on the back of the head, with half a fathom of black ribbon hanging over the left eye, and a slip-tie to the black silk neckerchief, with sundry other minutiae, are signs, the want of which betrays the beginner at once. Besides the points in my dress which were out of the way, doubtless my complexion and hands were quite enough to distinguish me from the regular salt who, with a sunburnt cheek, wide step, and rolling gait, swings his bronzed and toughened hands athwart-ships, half opened, as though just ready to grasp a rope. ' "

With all my imperfections on my head," I joined the crew, and we hauled out into the stream, and came to anchor for the night. The next day we were employed in preparation for sea, reeving studding-sail gear, crossing royal yards, putting on chafing gear, and taking on board our powder. On the following night, I stood my first watch. I remained awake nearly all the first part of the night from fear that I might not hear when I was called ; and when I went on deck, so great were my ideas of the importance of my trust, that I walked regularly fore and aft the whole length of the vessel, looking out over the bows and taffrail at each turn, and was not a little surprised at the coolness of the old sea man whom I called to take my place, in stowing him self snugly away under the long-boat for a nap. That was a sufficient lookout, he thought, for a fine night, at anchor in a safe harbor.

The next morning was Saturday, and, a breeze having sprung up from the southward, we took a pilot on board, hove up our anchor, and began beating down the bay. I took leave of those of my friends who came to see me off, -and had barely opportunity for a last look at the city and well-known objects, as no time is allowed on board ship for sentiment. As we drew down into the lower harbor, we found the wind ahead in the bay, and were obliged to come to anchor in the roads. We remained there through the day and a part of the night.

My watch began at eleven o'clock at night, and I received orders to call the captain if the wind came out from the westward. About midnight the wind became fair, and, having summoned the captain, I was ordered to call all hands. How I accomplished this, I do not know, but I am quite sure that I did not give the true hoarse boatswain call of " A-a-ll ha-a-a-nds ! up anchor, a-ho-oy ! " In a short time every one was in motion, the sails loosed, the yards braced, and we began to heave up the anchor, which was our last hold upon Yankee land.

I could take but small part in these preparations. My little knowledge of a vessel was all at fault. Unintelligible orders were so rapidly given, and so immediately executed ; there was such a hurrying about, and such an intermingling of strange cries and stranger actions, that I was completely bewildered. There is not so helpless and pitiable an object in the world as a landsman beginning a sailor's life.

At length those peculiar, long-drawn sounds which denote that the crew are heaving at the windlass began, and in a few minutes we were under way. The noise of the water thrown from the hows was heard, the vessel leaned over from the damp night-breeze, and rolled with the heavy ground-swell, and we had actually begun our long, long journey. This was literally bidding good night to my native land.

Sea Tales - Heavy Weather at Sea

. . .  But all my dreams were soon put to flight by an order from the officer to trim the yards, as the wind was getting ahead ; and I could plainly see by the looks the sailors occasionally cast to windward, and by the dark clouds that were fast coming up, that we had bad weather to prepare for, and I had heard the captain say that he expected to be in the Gulf Stream by twelve o'clock. In a few minutes eight bells were struck, the watch called, and we went below. I now began to feel the first discomforts of a sailor's life.

The steerage, in which I lived, was filled with coils of rigging, spare sails, old junk, and ship stores, which had not been stowed away. Moreover, there had been no berths put up for us to sleep in, and we were not allowed to drive nails to hang our clothes upon.

The sea, too, had risen, the vessel was rolling heavily, and everything was pitched about in grand confusion. There was a complete " hurrah's nest," as the sailors say, " everything on top and nothing at hand." A large hawser had been coiled away on my chest ; my hats, boots, mattress, and blankets had all fetched away and gone over to leeward, and were jammed and broken under the boxes and coils of rig ging. To crown all, we were allowed no light to find anything with, and I was just beginning to feel strong symptoms of sea-sickness, and that listlessness and inactivity which accompany it. Giving up all attempts to collect my things together, I lay down on the sails, expecting every moment to hear the cry, " All hands ahoy ! " which the approaching storm would make necessary.

I shortly heard the raindrops falling on deck thick and fast, and the watch evidently had their hands full of work, for I could hear the loud and repeated orders of the mate, trampling of feet, creaking of the blocks, and all the accompaniments of a coming storm. In a few minutes the slide of the hatch was thrown back, which let down the noise and tumult of the deck still louder, the cry of " All hands ahoy ! tumble up here and take in sail," saluted our ears, and the hatch was quickly shut again. When I got upon deck, a new scene and a new experience was before me.

The little brig was close-hauled upon the wind, and lying over, as it then seemed to me, nearly upon her beam ends. The heavy head sea was beating against her bows with the noise and force almost of a sledge hammer, and flying over the deck, drenching us completely through. The topsail halyards had been let go, and the great sails were filling out and backing against the masts with a noise like thunder ; the wind was whistling through the rigging; loose ropes were fly sailors " singing out " at the ropes in their hoarse and peculiar strains.

Sea Tales - Sea Sickness & Sea Legs

In addition to all this, I had not got my " sea legs on," was dreadfully sea-sick, with hardly strength enough to hold on to anything, and it was " pitch dark." This was my condition when I was ordered aloft, for the first time, to reef topsails. How I got along, I cannot now remember. I " laid out " on the yards and held on with all my strength. I could not have been of much service, for I remember having been sick several times before I left the topsail yard, making wild vomits into the black night, to leeward.

Soon all was snug aloft, and we were again allowed to go below. This I did not consider much of a favor, for the confusion of everything below, and that inexpressible sickening smell, caused by the shaking up of bilge water in the hold, made the steerage but an indifferent refuge from the cold, wet decks. I had often read of the nautical experiences of others, but I felt as though there could be none worse than mine ; for, in addition to every other evil, I could not but remember that this was only the first night of a two years' voyage.

When we were on deck, we were not much better off, for we were continually ordered about by the officer, who said that it was good for us to be in motion. Yet anything was better than the horrible state of things below. I remember very well going to the hatchway and putting my head down, when I was oppressed by nausea, and always being relieved immediately. It was an effectual emetic. This state of things continued for two days. . . .

[. . . I cannot but remember the advice of the cook, a simple-hearted African. " Now," says he, " my lad, you are well cleaned out ; you haven't got a drop of your 'long-shore swash aboard of you. You must begin on a new tack, — pitch all your sweetmeats overboard, and turn to upon good hearty salt beef and ship bread, and I 'll promise you, you 'll have your ribs well sheathed, and be as hearty as any of 'em, afore you are up to the Horn."

This would be good advice to give to passengers, when they set their hearts on the little niceties which they have laid in, in case of sea-sickness. I cannot describe the change which half a pound of cold salt beef and a biscuit or two produced in me. I was a new being. Having a watch below until noon, so that I had some time to myself, I got a huge piece of strong, cold salt beef from the cook, and kept gnawing upon it until twelve o'clock. ]