Francis Liardet: Professional Recollections on Points of Seamanship, Discipline, &c., 1849.

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On sailing slong a coast with high land and deep ravines.

In sailing along a coast of this description, with the wind off the land, you are always liable to sudden gusts of wind, therefore you cannot be to careful in having everything quite ready for shortening sail at a moment's notice. We have known several instances of vessels losing spars on such occasions; some topmasts, some top-gallant masts, and others with split sails, &c. We have also known several instances of vessels being nearly thrown on their sides, for the want of having hands by the sheets and halliards, on such occasions. In sailing close along high land, you will mostly be liable to sudden gusts of wind, and sometimes very heavy squalls, therefore, under such circumstances, you cannot be too well prepared. In goining in or out of ports or bays surrounded with high land, you will always be more or less liable to sudden gusts and changes of wind, therefore it will be right to be prepared at all points as to sails and anchors; and as in such places, between the squalls you frequently have calms, it would be desireable to have boats, hawsers, and kedges, ready for use at a moment's notice.

Francis Liardet: Professional Recollections on Points of Seamanship, Discipline, &c.
William Woodward, Portsea, 1849. 8vo, frontisp., (6), x, 319 pp, 1 col. plate of signals.

Transcribed by Lars Bruzelius

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