How to sail a square rigged ship

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

I posted this link to three ten minute videos in the bilge, but they are so good - by far the best I have ever seen - that I thought the upper decks should see them as well, along with this wonderful photograph of the Statsraad Lehmkuhl close hauled in a stiff breeze:

[pez_leon]

I really enjoyed watching the first of these videos on my lunch break. Very well done. Thank you!

- James

[Autonomous]

Like!

[Dave Hadfield]

Excellent!

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

The photo of the Statsraad Lehmkuhl close hauled was taken a few days ago, by her drone!


She is the oldest of Norway’s three operating square rigged sail training ships; the others are the Sorlandet, in the videos, and the Christian Radich.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statsraad_Lehmkuhl

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%B8rlandet_(ship)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Radich

[gypsie]

mahalo nui iā 'oe

[The Jeff]

That was a fascinating series of videos, thanks. I assume they always raised the mainsail during the different operations so it wouldn't snag on the braces from the sails on the foremast as it swung across?

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

The main course gets in the way and makes the work of hauling the braces harder. Being near the centre of the sail plan it doesn’t contribute to the manoeuvre.

Man the clew-garnets ! " " Let the main sheet fly ! "
It rends in thousand shivering threads on high.

The mainsail, all in streaming ruins tore,
Loud fluttering, imitates the thunders roar.

The watchful seaman, whose sagacious eye
On sure experience may with truth rely,

Who from the reigning cause foretells the effect,
This barb'rous practice ever will regret ;

For fluttering loose in air, the rigid sail
Soon flits to ruins in the furious gale ;

And he who strives, the tempest to disarm
Will never first embrail the lee yard-arm.