Handling Sail, Tacking, Wearing, Missing Stays
69 SECTION XVI. MAKIXG AND SHORTENING SAIL. SETTING TOPSAILS. If the clews of the upper topsails are shackled or la,shed on the lower topsail-yard, there i<> really nothing to do in setting the sail but to t€md the braces and sway away the halyards till the leaches are taut, then point the yard, and steady tight the lee braces. Upper topsails are very often fitted with short sheets, and are much handier this way, especially in stowing. In this case they are sheeted home before hoisting. Upper topsails are often set first when getting under weigh from a crowded anchorage. · . When setting a lower topsail in a strong wind, overhaul the lee gear well, and haul the lee-sheet home first, then the weather-sheet, point the yard, and steady tight the braces. When pointing the yards, if the vessel is going by the wind, keep the weather topsail braces a little more in than the lower braces, so that the topsail yards are a shade squarer than the lower yard.* SETTING TOPGALLANT SAILS AND ROYALS. Say you have been under topsails, a strong breeze still blowing, and you are about to set the topgallant sails. · . · Lay the yard by the braces as required, a little more square than the topsail-yard. See the topgallant clewlines, buntlines, sheets, and hal- yards all clear. When the sail is loose, overhaul well the lee buntlines, and run the lee sheet nearly home ; then the weather sheet chock out, and then lee sheet again. Let go the lee brace, stand by the weather brace, and hoist away the sail until the leaches are well taut.
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