If the vessel carries an excessive amount of weather helm, more than previous experience of her sailing would lead one to expect, and does not pass through the water freely, it may be relieved by easing off the main sheet a trifle, and flattening-in the jib sheets, but the mainsheet must not be so much eased as to cause the sail to lift, nor must the jib sheet be flattened-in so as to make the jib simply a pressing sail. In vessels that are broad across the deck at the bow the jib sheets can be much better trimmed, as there is less chance of getting the sheets too flat ; hence, as a rule, second. jibs are always made to stand better than first jibs, as they do not go out so far on the bowsprit, and the angle made by the sheet is therefore coarser. [In very narrow vessels outriggers are frequently used to lead the sheets through and get more spread.] It can be supposed that the sails are all nicely trimmed, doing their work properly, and that the vessel carries just the right amount of weather helm, and will fly to directly the weather tiller lines are released. Under these conditions the tiller is handed over to the young helmsman, and we will first say a few words as to the position he should take. As a rale, the steersman stands near to or sits on the weather rail, and this is undoubtedly the best position ; he can then look into the jib and foresail, see when they are inclined to lift, and at the same time watch the luff of the mainsail and the vane or flag, which, if there be a topsail set, should flicker just on the weather side of the yard. But sometimes in light winds a man may sit on the lee rail and watch the head sails from under the lee of the mainsail, and this will be occasionally a capital position if a jib topsail be set. The weather tiller-line must, of course, be rove through the sheave in the weather rail, then, with the fall in his hand to leeward, the helmsman can keep his vessel off or bring her to at will. Of course, we do not mean that a man might always equally well sit down to leeward and steer, but there is no better place for seeing the sit of the sails, and an occasional visit to leeward will often prevent the necessity for shouting out " How are our head sheets ?" which in variably produces a general scramble of the crew to the lee bow, and a meaningless chorus " All right, sir !" Some men we have seen get a deck cushion and sit down by the side of the tiller and hug it as if they had got hold of the neck of a favourite donkey. They may be very good helmsmen, but their hunched-up appearance, as they squat on their haunches cuddling the tiller, necessarily makes one form a very poor opinion, at least, of their " style," and frequently the man can be put down as more or less of a sloven.
It can be concluded that the best position for the helmsman when sailing on a wind is as near the weather rail as possible; he can then really see for himself what the head sails are doing, and the admonition " She's near for'ard " need never be heard.
The jib is perhaps the best guide for the young helmsman, and if he steers by that alone, he ought always to be able to keep his vessel full and yet not allow her to get off the wind. With a nice topsail breeze— not strong enough to lay the vessel in to the deck—the luff of the jib will be just rippled, or the canvas into which the luff rope is stitched will more or less " bag," and will be in a constant state of quivering (see p. 26); but the luff of the sail must not be allowed to lift, i.e., to go into large folds, as, if it does, it will be a sign that the vessel is too near. If you are keeping the vessel a good full there will be no ripples or wrinkles in the luff of the jib—unless the jib be a very old and badly-stretched one—and all the sails will be quiet.
In sailing by the luff of the mainsail, as some men do who cuddle the tiller, the young helmsman may be apt to get his vessel off the wind, as he will be constantly thinking she is " near," through the eddy wind out of the foresail making the luff of the mainsail shake. The luff of the mainsail is thus a not very trustworthy guide for the inex perienced helmsman ; still, as a rule, when the luff of the mainsail lifts and the disturbance begins to travel aft across the belly of the sail in waves, it will be a pretty sure sign that the vessel is " starved of wind," and a little weather helm should be given her.
Sailing by the vane, whip, burgee, or racing flag, is sometimes said to be the easiest and at the same time the most trustworthy guide for close hauled sailing; but a very little experience will soon prove the fallacy of this. If the vessel is moving along at a good pace, say five or six knots an hour, the flag will blow aft nearly in a line with the keel (see page 23), and if there be a square-headed topsail set, the flag will flicker on the weather side of the yard. But in such light winds as we are now assuming to blow, there may be quite a different current of wind aloft. Thus we frequently hear the remark " She's near for'ard " responded to by the helmsman, " She's all full aloft—look at the flag,"—and probably the flag will be right across the vessel. Or the flag may blow out to wind ward of the topsail yard, or droop and cause the helmsman to think that he has got his vessel head to wind, and he will of course haul the tiller to windward. This, perhaps, will cause a shout of " Bring her to !" or " Let her luff, she's all off the wind," and an appeal to the vane or racing flag will only show what a misleading guide it is. In fact, trying to sail the vessel by a vane, or by the luff of a topsail, will be certain to cause " remarks " to be made forward, and as these remarks have always an irritating effect on the steersman, he had better sail on a wind by the head sails than by the flag, especially so as he will thereby be able to keep the lower sails doing their work, and it is the lower sails which must be mostly depended upon for getting through the water.
An old hand will sit down by the tiller and, perhaps, close his eyes, and still fairly sail a vessel on a wind, as long practice will tell him how she heads by the feeling of the wind on his face. He will not deign to look at jib, mainsail, or flag, but will give the vessel lee or weather helm just as he feels the wind on his face comes freer or shorter. This really is a very good guide, and the steersman when he gets thoroughly acquainted with the sailing of a vessel on a wind will find a " chill " on his face a very trustworthy hint as to the doing of a paltry, shy, or baffling wind.
In sailing on a wind, keep an eye on the head sails, after sail, upper sail, and vane, and the other eye to windward, for nine times out of ten the direction of an impending puff can be seen as it travels towards the weather bow of the vessel, rippling the water in its course. If the dark ripples are seen coming broad on the bow, you will know that it will be a good lufling puff, and as it takes hold of the vessel, ease the weather tiller lines, and let her luff to it freely, but do not allow the jib to lift; then, if the puff is a mere " chill," out of a passing cloud, perhaps, and leaves the wind as before, do not wait till the puff has passed over before the helm is hauled a-weather again, or the vessel will be left nearly head to wind, and this would be a very lubberly proceeding ; therefore, before the "free puff" has blown itself out, haul up the helm and get the vessel full and bye again.