RUNNING BEFORE THE WIND AND SEA .—Running before a wind and sea in a small boat may to the inexperienced appear a very simple and safe operation ; but, in reality, it is a very dangerous one, and many a small boat has been lost in attempting to " run away" from a sea. The two principal dangers will arise from getting by the lee and broaching to : the boat's head will be most likely to fall off to leeward, or rather her stern lift to windward, as a wave crest passes underneath her bottom from astern. But with equal peril she might have " broached to " as the wave crest lifted her bow ; the boat's head will be turned towards the wind, and then, if she be not well managed, she will get broadside on to the waves, and the next roller will almost inevitably swamp her. If the rig be wizen, mainsail, and forosail, the mizen should be stowed before the boat is put before the wind ; the lee foresheet should be belayed slack, and the weather one should be led aft. As the boat begins to fly to, haul the weather foresheet in, and put the helm up ; but very frequently the helm is not of much use if the boat is among breakers in shallow water, as she will be carried along on the back of a comber. Thus it very frequently happens that a boat that has successfully battled with the waves in the offing comes to grief as she gets among the surf to try and effect a landing or to run over a bar into harbour. In running over a surf an oar off the quarter will be found much more effective than the rudder to steer with, but the oar should always have a line fast on it, and it should be belayed to the gunwale, in case it has to be left when the sail requires attention.
A small boat, if there is much wind, and especially if there be sea as well, should never be run dead before the wind, but with the wind a little on the quarter; then gybe over, and run on the other tack, to make the destination.
In gybing, always haul the boom well aboard as the helm is put up. As the wind passes from dead astern and comes on the other quarter, taking the boom over, shift the helm promptly and prevent the vessel flying to.
GionateL Cetrnoxs.—Great care should always be taken when passing under the lee of a ship at anchor or other large object, if there is anything like a breeze, as when the boat draws clear she will have but little way on, and to be met then by the full blast of the breeze will cause her to heel more than if she were moving at her best speed ; or, if she has to go under the lee of a passing or meeting vessel, she will equally get becalmed, though not for so long a time ; she will, however, get the breeze again much more suddenly than if the passing ship had been at anchor, and may consequently be knocked down more. None of the crew of a boat should ever sit on the gunwale when passing under the lee of a ship, as the sudden loss of wind will bring the boat upright, and so much weight on one side may cause the crew to be pitched into the water, or possibly, if the boat got caught aback as she heeled to windward, she might capsize.
The first best thing to do is to give all objects such a wide berth that the boat cannot be becalmed by them. If the boat is beating to windward, and would have to bear up very much to clear the ship at anchor, it would be better to make a board and weather the ship ; this can also be done, if managed in good time, to weather a ship that is meeting the boat, i.e., is running before the wind; but a boat should never be put across a vessel unless so far ahead as to render collision impossible. If in the attempt to weather a ship there seems a doubt about doing it, do not commence squeezing or nipping ; ramp the boat along, and tack or bear up in good time and go under the ship's stern if both are beating, and under her lee if the ship is free.
If there be no choice, and the small boat has to pass under the lee of the ship, then have the mainsheet cast off and held ready and clear to run out; if the boat has nearly lost her way before she gets the breeze again she will scarcely answer her helm to luff; and if she is knocked down to near the gunwhale edge let the sheet fly without hesitation.