Next it can be supposed that the boat is being sailed at a permanent angle of heel of 15°, that she has an extreme roll of 15°, and that there came a sudden wind squall. Then if the extreme leeward roll, and the squall took place together when in the position shown by Fig. 48, she would blow over and nothing could save her. But she need not be in such a position as that depicted and yet be blown over : if the boat has a heel of and an extreme leeward roll of 15°, then if the extreme roll and a squall occurred together the boat would be upset, whatever her actual position among the waves, whether she was on the trough, on the side, or on the crest of a wave. Further it must be always understood that a force of wind which will, if applied steadily, heel a boat to 15°, will if applied suddenly heel her to double that inclination ; thus it is not so much the force of the squall as the suddenness of its application wherein lies the danger. ------------------- - ------ When a boat is among waves (especially with a beam wind), ballast should not be trimmed to windward, nor should the passengers sit on the weather gunwales, as a boat after being in a position similar to that shown by Fig. 48 will take a very heavy weather roll, possibly fly up in the wind, be taken aback, and blown over.
The canvas that will permanently heel a boat to 15° may be carried safely enough in smooth water with a beam wind, but the case is altogether different among waves, and so much canvas should not then be carried, perhaps by one half. Many ships' boats and pleasure boats are annually lost through recklessness in carrying canvas in rough water; and, although a boat may go out among waves a dozen times without being subject to either of the coincident conditions described, yet may she the very next time : therefore immunity is not necessarily impunity. It will thus be seen that there is very considerable danger attendant upon sailing a boat among waves, a danger perhaps not always understood.
In sailing among waves the ballast should be well secured, the passengers should sit in the bottom of the boat, and the main sheet should be kept in the hand. If the sea is abeam the boat should be watched very closely, and if a bigger wave than usual rolls in on the weather beam, ease the sheet and run off the wind a little, the wave will then pass harmlessly under the boat. Do not luff with a beam wind or sea, and in keeping away never forget to ease the mainsheet.
In sailing by the wind among waves the danger of being blown over will be considerably less, but nevertheless there is danger, and it must not be assumed that because an experienced and skilful boat sailer sails a mere cockle-shell safely about among waves, that anyone could do so without experience or skill. In boat sailing safety mainly depends upon knowing what is dangerous.
In sailing by the wind the mainsheet might be belayed with a slippery hitch, with the fall close to the hand (resting over the knee is a good plan) and the foresheet should lead aft. If there is much sea do not pin the mainsheet in, but the foresheet can be drawn fairly taut. Luff the boat fairly into the big seas that roll in on the bow, and fill her again promptly. The foresail will be found of great assistance in taking her head off, and hence it should be sheeted pretty flat. In puffs and squalls the boat
should be lulled up and the foresheet eased, and always do this before the gunwale gets under; as when the gunwale goes under, the boat soon loses way and then the power of luffing will be gone, and the boat may perhaps fill and sink. If a boat does not come to quickly and relieve herself of wind, let fly the main sheet and ease her that way, but recollect in all cases that whatever is done must be done promptly.
If the boat has a mizen the main sheet can be eased at the time of putting the helm down, as the mizen will bring the boat head to wind, but generally in luffing for squalls the mainsheet need not be eased ; but the foresheet should be, as that will allow the boat to fly to more readily.
If the boat has only a mainsail and mizen, ease the mainsheet in luffing if the squall be heavy, and leave the mizen to bring her to.
In luffing for squalls, should the boat get head to wind, haul the foresheet a-weather, put the helm up, keep the mainsheet eased off and press down what is to be the lee quarter : (see foot-note in the Chapter on New Brighton Boats.) If the boat has only one sail, haul the boom on what is to be the weather side and put the tiller on the opposite side ; as the boat gets sternway on she will pay off, then right the helm, ease the boom over, and sail her. If the boat has a mizen as well as mainsail, the mizen sheet should be eased whilst the boom is held over. If an oar is handy, the boat can be helped off the wind by a "back-water" stroke or two off the lee quarter, or a forward stroke or two on the weather bow. But the boat sailer must not get nervous and throw his boat head to wind for every little catspaw or small sea ; he must, whilst being careful that his boat is not capsized by a squall or filled by shipping water, sail her boldly but not recklessly, and keep her a " good full," or she will surely drive to leeward. It is particularly incumbent that a boat should be kept full when sailing among waves, hence the great necessity of her being appropriately canvassed. However, if the boat is sailing across a weather-going tide she may be " squeezed" a little, but never allow the sails to lift.
Whilst tacking a small boat always remember that it is not the tiller of a big yacht that is grasped, and do not shove the helm down with all the force at hand ; bring the boat head to wind with the tiller about half over, then put it hard up and ease again to amidships as the vessel gathers good way. With a big boom mainsail a small boat in smooth water will shoot head to wind and fill on the other tack in less time than it takes to write it, but in a sea she may require some help, and the moment for tacking should be when a " smooth " comes on the water. If there is an uncertainty about the boat coming round, do not let go the foresheet until the boat's head is fairly off on the other tack. If the boat has no head sail, haul the boom aboard as the helm is put down, and keep it to windward until she pays off. Never forget that a boat can always be helped round by an oar.
Above all things never attempt to tack with a big wave coming in on the weather bow.