GYBING OR WEARING.—To gybe or wear is to keep the vessel off the wind by bringing the helm to windward until the wind comes astern and then on the opposite side to which it has been blowing. This manoeuvre has sometimes to be resorted to when a vessel miss-stays. Set taut the weather-topping lift. Ease off the main sheet until the boom is well off the lee quarter, and if there be much wind or sea, trice up the main tack and lower the peak; if a topsail is set it should be clewed up. Have as many hands as can be spared at the main sheet. Put the helm up. As the vessel's head goes off and brings the wind nearly astern, rally in the main sheet, and be careful that there is a smart hand stationed to take a turn with it. As the vessel comes nearly stern on to the wind, overhaul what has been the weather runner; catch a turn with the main sheet ; and, as the boom goes over, meet her with the helm, so that she does not fly to, head to wind. Ease up the topping lift, and trim tacks and sheets.
If the vessel be already before the wind with the main boom square off, when it is necessary to gybe her, take the same precautions, if there be much wind, by tricing up the main tack, lowering peak, and clewing up topsail, not forgetting to set the weather topping lift well taut, if it is not already taut, as it certainly should be. Luff a little, and get in some of the main sheet; when the boom is on the quarter (at about an angle of 45° with the keel), steady the helm and put up gradually, still getting in the main sheet. Hook on what has been the lee runner and set taut. Then, as
the wind is brought astern, overhaul the weather runner, belay the main sheet, let the boom go over, and meet the vessel with the helm. Overhaul the lee-topping lift, and trim tacks and sheets.
These are the ordinary precautions taken in gybing whilst cruising; but in match sailing, unless something like a gale of wind be blowing, the main tack is not triced up, nor is the peak lowered. There will, however, be the topmast preventer backstay to attend to. Station one man at the weather preventer to overhaul and unhook the tackle as the boom comes amidships. One hand to the fall of the whip of the lee preventer, who must haul the backstay aft as fast as the main boom is brought aboard ; he must get the whip as taut as he can, and belay before the boom is gybed. The tackle must be then hooked on the preventer to set it up. In large vessels two hands should be told off to the lee preventer.
In a schooner similar precautions will be taken, and there will be the foretopmast preventer backstays to attend to, and the fore-topsail should be dewed up. The fore sheet can be left until after the main boom is over.