Page 202 - Nicolaes Witsen & Shipbuilding in the Dutch Golden Age

Chapter Two
About the Bolt Ropes.
TheMainBoltRope(thatistheropeinw hichthe Sails stand), thick 31⁄2 inches, it is made of three strands, and 102 yarns, long without Bonnet 32 fathoms.
TheForeBoltRopethick31⁄4 inches,ismadeof84 yarns, long 42 fathoms.
The Main Topsail’s Bolt Rope thick 3 inches, of 72 yarns, long 34 fathoms.
The Fore Topsail’s Bolt Rope thick 2 1⁄2 inches, is made of 52 yarns, long 28 fathoms.
The Spritsail Topsail’s Bolt Rope, of 18 yarns, long 18 fathoms.
The Main-Topgallant Sail’s and Mizzen T opsail’s Bolt Rope has 1 5 yarns, together long 30 fathoms: the Fore-Topgallant Sail’s Bolt Rope is made of 12 yarns, and long 12 fathoms.
The Mizzen and Spritsail’s Bolt Rope thick 2 inches, the strand of 36 yarns, long 46 fathoms.
of which are sails w hich, in ex ceptional cases, either when in a h urry, or in a dead calm, or w hen chasing, are bent to the other sails.
The vinnetje, or jach tenduivel [no English equiva- lents] is a small sail , which can be hoisted in the poop
agsta .
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(139 I 2 9) Sailcloth, today, is spun from nely combed hemp. The dimensions of the sails are in some waysadaptedtotheuseforw hichtheshipsarein- tended.
On Yachts, or ships which are out to chase others at sea, many sails are made.
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(139 I 50) The sails should not be attached too tightly to the Yards, but in such a wa y that, the wind blow- ing into them, gives them a certain roundness; th us the wind is better caught in the Sail, or can pass more movement to the cloth, and the Ship will have more speed. Unless when sailing very close to the wind.
129. Sails
The pinas ha d ten s ails: two to
mizzenmast, three to the forem ast and m ainmast. Wit- sen does not give dimensions for any staysails, studding sails, or other light-weather kites.
The sails were ma de from c anvas (flax) cloths with a width of 11⁄8 ells (79 centimeters), or a finished width of 75 centimeters between se am centers after they were sewn together. The topsails were lighter , made of Irish linen woven to a w idth of 1 el l (69 centimeters). The bolt rope was stitched around the sails to reinforce the fabric. (For a detailed discussion of sail dimensions, see “Contracts for Sails” in chapter 3.)
A bonnet was a piece of sail that could be latched to the foot of a sail with a system of loops to enlarge the sail area. It could also be quickly removed or unlatched to reduce the sail area.
The total s ail area of Witsen’s pinas was about 900 square meters.
130.Parrels
(275 I 46) The parrel, being a ring of trucks and ribs, holds the yard against the mast: it rises and lowers with it along the mast. During battle chains are used with mousings below the parrel, for safeguarding against the breaking of the chains: so that the yard does not come falling down.
the bowsprit and the
(135 I 10) Content of Sails of my Ship.
The Mainsail is broad 23 sail cloths, Dutch Canvas,
the wood above at the H ead rope 26 ells, and is deep up and down 141⁄4 ells, it can be carried with or without Bonnet.
The Foresail is 20 cloths broad , above at the H ead rope22ells,anddeep113⁄4 ells,theBonnetunderneath is deep 31⁄4 ells.
The Main Topsail below 21 cloths, and above broad 12 cloths, the wood 131⁄2 ells, and is deep 18 ells.
TheForeTopsailbelow18cloths,andabove10 1⁄4 cloths, the wood 111⁄2 ells, and is deep 141⁄2 ells.
The Spritsail broad 18 cl oths, French Canvas, the wood 171⁄4 ells, is deep 81⁄4 ells.
The Mizzen with its Bonnet is 16 cloths below , Dutch Canvas, aft deep 20 ells, the tack for ward of the nock 21⁄2 cloths, the wood to the lateen yard 24 ells.
TheSpritsailTopsailbelow163⁄4 ells,above8ells, deep 101⁄4 ells.
The Mizzen Topsail below 13 ells, above 7 ells, deep 9 ells.
The Main-Topgallant Sail below 13 ells, above 7 ells, deep 9 ells.
The Fore-Topgallant Sail below 9 ells, above 6 ells, deep 71⁄4 ells.
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