Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 2]
the small sail would take the wind out of one half of the square one, and in the second, the Square Sail would, as soon as the Clewgarnets were hawled up, be entirely becalmed at the Back of the Small one, where it might be Bunted, handed, or unbent, and another Bent in its [room?] with the greatest Facility.
This Sail would be exceedingly useful in Violent weather, either in Cruizing, attending Convoys, Scudding, working in a Narrow Channnel, running in upon an unknown or Doubtful Coast, in Lines of Battle, or in Action with an Enemy, from its not requiring more Men to Work it, than are Necessary to work the Topsails, as well as from its never requiring to be hawled up, since it may be Backed and filled at Pleasure, and Boats may even be hoisted in and out, when it is set, without any Inconvenience.
When heavy Gales of wind oblige a Ship to lay too, this Sail would be of the greatest Utility to her, for 1st. being much less than a Reefed Mainsail, it never can require to be reefed, and therefore is not liable to the Danger of being Split, by being ill reefed in very bad Weather, which in my opinion is always much greater than the Advantage obtained by the [Demuniton?] of its Size. 2nd. Tho' it is but one half of the Size of the Common Mainsail, Still it is Curtailed only in those Parts, which, in that weather, are becalmed by the Sea, and the lofty Part of it, which is Useful to keep the Ship quiet, is Preserved. 3rd. If when a Ship is laying too under a Triangular Mainsail, a heavy Sea Should Chance to break on board of her, the quantity of Water retained by its, will be very Trifling, Compared with that which, upon those Occasions, always lodges in the Clew of a Square one, and which generally Produces, at least, the loss of the Sail. 4th Whenever the Ship is obliged to wear, She would do it with Two such Courses, in a few Minutes, with very few Men without any
Labour