Sailing by Tee

If you see that the puff is a strong one, of the nature of a squall, do not get nervous and luff before it strikes the vessel, unless of course it is considered prudent to shoot up head to wind to meet it. If you begin luffing and lifting the sails before the squall strikes you will deaden the way of the vessel, and then the squall will have much greater effect in heeling the vessel, and will perhaps take the topmast away—as a very frequent cause of topmasts being broken is by being caught in a puff when the vessel has no way, or but little way on.

But puffs as frequently come ahead as broad on the bow, and the head puffs are the more difficult to deal with. Keep a good look-out for these "nose-enders," and if lucky enough to see one before it reaches the jib, keep the vessel off a little, and, if possible, prevent the sails lifting at all. These puffs will be most frequently met with when sailing along under high land or under trees; one minute a puff will come broad on the bow or on the beam and lay the vessel in to the skylights, and the next one will come right ahead and bring her upright as a monolith; and what with hang to one puff and keeping away for another, the helms man will have his vigilance very highly tested. He, of course, will not be able to keep the sails from lifting at all, as the puffs are more or less revolving, and Palinurus himself could not successfully dodge them; still, with care, a vessel should never be allowed to get head to wind so as to want backing off by hauling the foresheet to windward and easing off the mainboom—this would not be seamanlike, and would betoken great inattention.

In luffing to free puffs,

Or in keeping away for foul ones, do not " slam " the helm about; that is, do not shove it down as if you were trying to avoid striking something, or haul it up as if you were bearing away round a mark. In most cases easing the tiller lines will enable the vessel to luff all that is necessary, and when free puffs are about a very light hand should be kept on the tiller lines, and the vessel will dance herself to windward and eat out on the weather of one whose tiller has been held in an iron grip during all the puffs. Get all the luffing possible out of a vessel, and never miss the smallest chance of a gripe to windward, even to a quarter of a point of the compass; but do not put the helm down so coarsely that there is a danger of bringing the vessel nearly head to wind; if this is done the helm will have to be put hard up to get her off the wind again, and nothing so interferes with good performance on a wind as too much ruddering. A good helmsman must have a light hand and unceasing vigilance, as " weatherly qualities" are in no small manner dependent on the way a vessel is steered. Therefore it cannot be too frequently repeated that the faintest semblance of a luffing puff must never be disregarded, and the vessel must at the same time be humoured so tenderly to it, that no one shall see what the helmsman is about unless by watching his movements very closely. On the other hand, in using weather helm

in keeping off to avoid a foul puff, it will not do to be too slow with the helm, or the vessel will be stopped, and without way on, it will be some trouble to get her full and going again. Therefore always put the helm up as promptly as possible, but do not haul it savagely on 'to the weather rail as if you were going to sail " large " for the rest of the day. If a puff is not seen coming broad on to the bow look out for one coming ahead, and directly the jib shows the slightest sign of lifting, drag steadily on the weather tiller lines; if the puff is a very bad one, the helm must be smartly hauled aweather, but as a rule the foul puffs will not vary in direction more than a couple of points from the direction of the true wind, and they must be accorded with by as delicate a use of the helm as for "luffing puffs." Thus the secret of close-hauled sailing consists in such a constant watching of the wind and such a use of the helm to meet its variations, that the vessel is always " full and bye," and never "near " and never "o$" the wind. When a man can so sail a vessel, he will be a perfect helmsman, and will make her eat to windward as fast as the very best professional skipper could.

Speaking of professional skippers reminds us that many of these have a funny habit of " sawing " the helm backwards and forwards ; that is, they haul on the weather tiller lines and then ease them without apparent motive, generally accompanying the performance with a cor responding see-sawing motion of the body, by first resting on one foot and then on the other. Probably this peculiar habit was acquired on board fishing vessels in the winter, when the men might find sawing the helm and working their bodies about promote warmth. It certainly is no assistance to a vessel, and is very " bad form." Sailing a vessel in a strong wind, say with the scuppers full of water, will not be quite such a delicate operation ; still, the wind will vary a great deal, and the very most must be made of the free puffs, and the effect of foul ones reduced as much as possible. The vessel will of course carry a great deal more weather helm, and when the sails are nicely trimmed the jib will be found the most reliable sail to steer by, as the luff of the mainsail will lift a great deal from the mere effect of the wind out of the foresail. Look out for the very hard puffs, and do not allow the vessel to needlessly bury herself ; on the other hand, do not get frightened at a little water on deck, and throw the vessel in the wind. Sail her along heartily, even to the rail under, but never forget to ease the tiller lines for the smallest freeing of the wind ; and for the very heavy puffs do not luff before they strike, but luff into them as they strike ; the vessel will then not be knocked down so badly, and will walk off with increased speed by the aid of the puff.