THE GALWAY HOOKER AND POOKHAUN.
The Galway hookers are noted on the west coast of Ireland for their weatherly qualities. They average from 11 to 16 tons, and being short, broad boats, with very hollow bows, they are exceedingly lively in a sea way, but seldom ship a sea; perfectly safe in every way except running when deep, when they have sometimes been pooped, owing to tjieir lean hollow runs.
Speaking of these hookers, Commander Horner, R.N., says "they are very bluff above and hollow beneath, and I often tried to persuade them to alter, and at last, after seven years, found one man, Gill, of Arran, who promised to do so, and who a year after sent me word that his new boat, launched just in time for a regatta, couldn't be looked at—beating everything." (See Plate XXXII.) The sails were made of a coarse stuff called " band linen," saturated with a mixture of tar and butter, which never thoroughly dried.
Horses and travellers are not used for the mainsheet, but when on a wind the sheet is belayed by a single nipping hitch round the timber head on the quarter, taut down, keeping the mainsail very flat.
They carried a strong weather helm, and were quick in stays.
They were cleverly handled by the Claddagh fishermen, and few things could be conceived prettier than a fleet of them working out for the fishing ground with the sun shining through their brown and red sails.
The Galway pookhaun (Plate %XXIII.) is a smaller boat than the hooker, and used for both rowing and sailing ; but it is built with the same ideas, of great tumble-home of topside to keep the gunwale out of the water when heeling over, and very raking sternpost, for quickness in stays. The sail of the pookhaun is single, cut as a triangle, with a yard on part of fore side, to set as a lug ; and when working to windward the fore end of the yard is dipped abaft the mast, and she is brought round very cleverly — often, when blowing fresh, the man at the tack taking a flying swing round the mast with it. They sail exceedingly well, and are very graceful and picturesque boats under sail.
The mainsail in the hooker is laced to the mast, the lacing going through the mingle and back again, round before the mast ; the sail coming down with the greatest ease when head to wind. The ballast is of stone, built into the bottom of the hooker and making a fire hearth, with a deck above as far aft as the mast.