Practical Boat-Sailing Part 13

BY THE WIND.--When a yacht is as near the wind as she can be sailed without the sails shaking; also called "full and by."

CABLE.--The rope by which the yacht is secured to the anchor.

TO PAY OUT THE CABLE.--To allow more of it to pa.s.s outboard, so that the yacht lies farther from the anchor.

CABOOSE.--Place where the food is cooked; also called the "cook's galley."

CALL.--A silver whistle used by the boatswain to have certain orders obeyed.

CAPSIZE.--To turn over.

TO CARRY AWAY.--A spar is said to be carried away when it is broken by the wind.

TO CAST OFF.--To untie, to allow to go free; viz., "Cast off the main-sheet!" "Cast off that boat's painter!"

CASTING.--To pay a yacht off on the desired tack when weighing the anchor, by arranging the sails so as to be taken aback.

CAT BOAT-RIG.--A yacht rigged with one mast placed chock forward in the eyes, and without stays or bowsprit, and fitted with one fore-and-aft sail.

CAT'S-PAW.--A light breeze or puff of air seen upon the water.

TO CALK.--To drive oak.u.m or cotton into the seams to prevent leaking, and to "pay" the same with pitch or tar.

CENTRE-BOARD.--A movable keel that can be lowered or hoisted at pleasure.

TO CLAW OFF.--To beat to windward from off a lee-sh.o.r.e.

CLEAT.--A piece of wood with two horns, fastened to the side of the yacht or to the mast, upon which ropes are made fast.

CLEWS.--The corners of sails.

CLOSE-HAULED.--To sail as near the wind as possible.

COILING.--To gather up a rope into a circular form ready for running out again at a moment's notice; such as, "Coil up the peak-halliards, and have them ready for running!"

COURSE.--The point of the compa.s.s on which the yacht sails.

CROSS-BEARINGS.--The finding of the exact position of the yacht upon the chart by taking the bearings by compa.s.s of two objects on sh.o.r.e.

CROTCH.--Two crossed pieces of wood in which the main boom is lashed, when the yacht is at anchor or the sail furled, to confine it in place.

TO CUN.--To direct the helmsman how to steer.

CUT-WATER.--The timber forming the entrance of the yacht.

BOAT-DAVITS.--Pieces of strong, bent iron standing out over the side to hoist boats up to, and secure them.

DOWN-HAUL.--A rope used to pull down the jib, &c.

DRAUGHT.--Depth of water. Thus it is said of a yacht that her draught is three feet; i.e., she draws three feet of water.

DRIFT.--To drive to leeward; to lose steerage way for want of wind.

EARINGS.--Small ropes used for las.h.i.+ngs.

EASE OFF.--To slacken.

EASE OFF HANDSOMELY.--To slacken very carefully.

END FOR END.--To change a rope that has been worn, and use one part where the other was formerly used.

END ON.--To advance bow or stern on, or to have another vessel approach in a similar manner.

ENSIGN.--The national flag, carried always at the gaff-end.

f.a.g-END.--The end of a rope which is frayed.

FALLING OFF.--When a yacht moves from the wind farther than she ought.

FATHOM.--A measurement six feet in length.

FID.--A tapered piece of wood used to splice ropes with, and, when made of iron, called a "marline-spike."

TO FILL.--To have the wind strike the inner or after surfaces of the sails.

FLAKE.--One circle of a coil of rope.

FLUKES.--The broad spade-like parts of an anchor.

FORE.--That part of the yacht nearest to the head.

FORE AND AFT.--In the direction of the keel; also vessels without square yards. Hence a schooner is often called a "fore-and-after;" and a s.h.i.+p, a "square-rigger."

FOUL HAWSE.--When the cables are twisted.

TO FOUL.--To entangle a rope; as, "The jib-halliards are foul." To run foul of a yacht is to come in collision with another.

TO FOUNDER.--To sink.

FURLING.--Making the sails fast to the booms and spars, and stowing them, by means of gaskets.

GAFF.--The spar that supports the head of a fore-and-aft sail.

GANGWAY.--The place where persons come on board.

GASKET.--A piece of rope or narrow canvas used to tie up sails with, or lash any thing.

TO GO ABOUT.--To tack.