Too much of the hawser should not be hauled in, as the yacht may drag, and this would render her, liable to disqualification ; neither should the rudder be put hard across, as that will cause the yacht to sheer and bring the stream of the tide on one bow, or on the broadside, and the force of the stream acting on such a surface may cause the yacht to drag, and this would render her liable to disqualification.
Sometimes when starting from moorings or anchors, permission is given to set after canvas prior to the gun for the start being fired; but if the yacht is riding head to the tide with the wind blowing astern, she could not keep at her moorings with mainsail set. In such cases the sail will not be hoisted till the last two or three minutes. But everything must be got ready long before the five-minutes gun.
The breeze we will assume to be of whole-sail strength, that is that the biggest topsail, not being a ballooner, can be just carried on a wind, and that the first part of the course lies to windward. See that the topsail is bent to the yard, and that the halyards are properly bent; also bend the second topsail, roll it up on the yard, and stow it away with the other spare spars on deck " ready when wanted." Haul No. 1 jib out by the traveller in stops, hook on the halyards, and let it lie on the bowsprit; get the mainsail (with boom well topped) and the foresail ready for hoisting. If the jib topsail will be wanted, hank it on to the topmast stay, stow it on the bowsprit end, and bend the sheets. See that the sheets are clear for hauling in aft.
See that everything is stowed below that will not be required on deck, and also see that everything that is on deck and not in immediate use is securely lashed. Have an axe ready to cut the quarter spring in case it jammed.
At the five-minutes gun place the crew at their stations.
The helmsman of the day then takes the helm ; with him aft will be the pilot, who will also look after the quarter spring and attend to the mainsheet; the mate will cast off the spring or hawser forward, clear the jib-halyards for hoisting, and with another hand hoist the jib and take in the lee jib-sheet; one hand will hoist the foresail and attend to the lee foresheet if necessary ; two hands will man the peak halyards, and two the throat, the jib and foresail men tailing on directly they have pulled these sails up. This will be work for eight hands ; if the pilot
is not allowed to work, the jib-halyard hand will go aft and cast off the spring and jump forward directly it is done.
As the time approaches for the firing of the gun to start, try to realise that everything must be done at once. If the yachts are lying head to wind and tide, and have to fill on starboard tack, the helmsman in the last fifteen seconds will put his helm to starboard, so as to make sure of the wind catching the yacht on the starboard bow. As the gun fires the mate will throw overboard the bow fast, and the quarter spring will be hung on to until the yacht is fairly filled on the right tack, when it will be thrown overboard by the pilot ; all hands will hoist away. The pilot will overhaul some of the mainsheet and drag it in again directly the yacht begins to move through the water, and the helmsman will gradually bring her to the wind. Get all the sails set and properly purchased as quickly as possible is advice that cannot too often be repeated, and when they are so set coil up all ropes, &c., and " clear the decks." If the yachts are to proceed against wind and tide, and to fill on starboard tack (i.e., cast to port), the helm will be put to starboard just before the start, in order to sheer the yacht's head to port or off the wind (in reality the stern will come more to windward than the bow will go off to leeward). Great exertion must be made to get the mainsail up quickly if it is not already set.
In starting to run with the tide and wind, hold on the quarter spring until the vessel is fairly swung round before the wind. If to run before the wind against the tide no quarter spring will be required, although one is generally bent on. In all cases get the canvas set as quickly as possible, and directly the hands who are hoisting the head sails have got them up hand taut, they should jump on to the main and peak halyards ; the purchasing will be done after the sails are fairly hoisted all round.