Page 350 - The Ashley Book of Knots

LASHINGS AND SLINGS

the proper moment they are "broken out" by hauling on the sheet.

To set or make up a j.ill or staysail in stops: Fold the sail lengthwise

so that the clew projects beyond the luff, and the luff and bunt are

parallel. Then roll up the bunt tightly to the luff and stop at the

width of every cloth or seam, with a single piece of sail twine tied

in a REEF KNOT. Omit the head stop. At either side of the projecting

clew put on a double stop. 2.0'11

2099. To make up a spinnaker: Bring the twO clews, or the cle'.v

and tack, together and, holding the head at a loose stretch, put long

zigzag folds in the sail as pictured. Be careful that the clew and tack

are both accessible. Stop the sail at even intervals with a single yarn

if adequate. Leave an appreciable length at the head without any

stop, as there is little pull there and in a light wind the sail may fail

to break out. At the foot put on a double stop.

The spinnaker is a very light sail and too heavy a stop may damage

it. On small boats white woolen knitting yarn makes a good stop and

may be used single or double as required. On a very small open boat

I have seen candle wicking used on a sail that scarcely rated any

stops. Every man has his own technique for making up sails in stops,

but the principle does not vary.

2100. When a heavy swell is running and there is practically no

wind, there is always danger of the sail breaking out before it is

wanted. Under these circumstances a sail may be made up with a

"chain stitch." The rope required is very long, so that, when break-

ing it out, one man should "run away" with it aft, while another

stands by at the clew, to run away with a second length when the

time arrives. This was tried, when twine was lacking, on a Genoa I I

jib and worked satisfactorily. But under some circumstances it seems

possible that it might foul and perhaps injure the sail.

2101. Colors are sent aloft in stops to prevent their fouling in the

rig-ging. The upper end of the lashing shown is the downhaul end

ot the halyard which is bent to the lower end of the hoist. Double the

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flag by laying head and foot together, then roll it up tightly.

Studding sails were once sent up in the manner last described or

else they were stopped with rope yarns. In both cases they were

stopped to their yards. They were sent aloft abaft the square sails

on the weather side, and forward on the leeward side. The stops

were cut by a sailor, who stood on the yardarlll to which the stud-

ding sail was clewed.

In a light wind, a spinnaker sometimes has a rope with a STOPPER

KNOT in the end. The rope is laid up outside the sail. The upper stop,

which is double, is made fast to the knot, and about every fourth 2'00

stop is fast to the rope.

Sometimes a sheet is laid up to the peak and stopped in, the end

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being brought to deck outside all. This insures instar.t breaking out.

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