MANAGEMENT OF OPEN ROWING-BOATS IN A SURF. 475 The following general rules for rowing to seaward may therefore be relied on : I. If sufficient command can be kept over a boat by the skill of those on board her, avoid the sea if possible, so as not to meet it at the moment of its breaking or curling over. II. Against a head gale and heavy surf, get all possible speed on a boat on the approach of every sea which cannot be avoided. III. If more speed can be given to a boat than is sufficient to prevent her being carried back by a surf, her way may be checked on its approach, which will give her an easier passage over it. II. Running before a Broken Sea, or Surf, to the Shore (Flat Beach). The one great danger, when running before a broken sea, is that of broaching-to. To that peculiar effect of the sea, so frequently destructive of human life, the utmost attention must be directed. The cause of a boat's broaching-to when running before a broken sea or surf is, that her own motion, being in the same direction as that of the sea, she opposes no resistance to it, but is carried before it. Thus, if a boat be running bow on to the shore, and her stern to the sea, the first effect of a surf or roller, on its overtaking her, is to throw up the stern, and, as a consequence, to depress the bow; if she then have sufficient inertia (which will be proportional to weight) to allow the sea to pass her, she will in succession pass through the descending, the horizontal, and the ascending positions, as the crest of the wave passes successively her stern, her midships, and her bow, in the reverse order in which the same positions occur to a boat propelled to seaward against a surf. This may be defined as the safe mode of running before a broken sea. But if a boat, on being overtaken by a heavy surf, has not sufficient inertia to allow it to pass her, the first of the three positions alone occurs-her stern is raised high in in the air, and the wave carries the boat before it, on its front or unsafe side, the bow deeply immersed in the hollow of the sea, where the water, being stationary, or comparatively so, offers a resistance, while the crest of the sea, having the actual motion which causes it to break, forces onward the rear end of the boat. A boat will, in this position, sometimes, aided by careful oarsteerage, run a considerable distance until the wave has broken and expended itself. But it will often happen that, if the bow be low, it will be driven under water, when, the buoyancy being lost forward, while the sea presses on the stern, the boat will be thrown end over end. Or if the bow be high, or protected by a bow air-chamber, so that it does not become submerged, the resistance forward acting on one bow will slightly turn the boat's head, and the force of the surf being transferred to the opposite quarter, she will in a moment be turned broadside to the sea, and be thrown by it on her beam-ends, or altogether capsized. It is in this manner that most boats are upset in a surf, especially on flat coasts. Hence it follows that the management of a boat when landing through a heavy surf, must stop her progress shoreward at the moment of her being overtaken by a heavy sea, and enable it to pass her. There are different ways of effecting this object: 1st. By turning a boat's head to the sea before entering the broken water, and then backing in stern foremost, pulling a few strokes ahead to meet each heavy sea, and then again backing astern. If a sea be really heavy and a boat small, this plan will be generally the safest. 2d. If rowing to shore with the stern to seaward, by backing all the oars on the approach of a heavy sea, and rowing ahead again as soon as it has passed to the bow of the boat, thus rowing in on the back of the wave; or, as is practised in some life-boats, placing the after-oarsmen, with their faces forward, and making them row back at each sea on its approach. 3d. If rowed in bow foremost, by towing astern a pig of ballast or large stone, or a large basket, or a canvas bag termed a "drogue" or drag, made for the purpose, the object of each being to hold the boat's stern back and prevent ber being turned broadside to the sea or broaching-to. A boat's sail bent to a yard, loosed and towed astern, the yard being attached to a line capable of being veered, hauled, or let go, will act in some measure as a drag, and will tend much to break the force of the sea immediately astern of the boat. Heavy weights should be kept out of the extreme ends of a boat; but when rowing before a heavy sea, the best trim is deepest by the stern, which prevents the stern being readily beaten off by the sea. A boat should be steered by an oar over the stern or on one quarter when running before a sea. The following general rules may, therefore, be depended on when running before, or attempting to land, through a heavy surf or broken water : I. As far as possible avoid each sea by placing the boat where the sea will break ahead of her. II. If the sea be very heavy, or if the boat be small, and especially if she have a square stern, bring her bow round to seaward and back her in, rowing ahead against each heavy surf, sufficiently to allow it to pass the boat. III. If it be considered safe to proceed to the shore bow foremost, back the oars against each sea on its approach, so as to stop the boat's way through the water as far as possible, and if there is a drag, or any other appliance in the boat which may be used as one, tow it astern to aid in keeping the boat stern on to the sea, which is the chief object in view. IV. Bring the principal weights in the boat towards the end that is to seaward; but not to the extreme end. V. If a boat worked by both sails and oars be running under sail for the land through a heavy sea, her crew should, unless the beach be quite steep, take down her masts and sails before entering the broken water, and take her to land under oars alone, as above described. If she have sails only, her sails should be much reduced, a half-lowered fore-sail or other small head-sail being sufficient. III. Beaching, or Landing through a Surf. The running before a surf or broken sea, and the beaching, or landing of a boat, are two distinct operations; the management of boats, as above reccommended, has exclusive reference to running before a surf where the shore is so flat that the broken water extends to some distance from the beach. On a very steep beach, the first heavy fall of broken water will be on the beach itself, while on some very flat shores, there will be broken water extending four or five miles from the land. The outermost line of broken water, on a flat shore, where the waves break in three or four fathoms of water, is the heaviest, and therefore the most dangerous; and when it has been passed through in safety, the danger lessens as the water shoals, until, on nearing the land, its force is spent and its power is harmless. As the character of the sea is quite different on steep and flat shores, so is the customary management of boats, on landing, different in the two situations. On the flat shore, whether a boat be run or backed in, she is kept straight before, or end on to the sea until she is fairly aground, when each surf takes her further in as it overtakes her, aided by the crew, who will then generally jump out to lighten her, and drag her in by her sides. As above stated, sail will, in this case, have been previously taken in, if set, and the boat will have been rowed or backed in by the oars alone. On the other hand, on the steep beach it is the general practice, in a boat of any size, to sail right on to the beach, and in the act of landing, whether under oars or sail, to turn the boat's bow half round, towards the direction in which the surf is running, so that she may be thrown on her broadside up the beach. where abundance of help is usually at hand to haul her as quickly as possible out of the reach of the sea. In such situations, we believe it is nowhere the practice to back a boat in stern foremost under oars, but to row in under full speed, as above described. APPENDIX G. MISCELLANEOUS ROUTINE. Monthly Routine.-On first Sunday in month, read Articles of War. On first week-day in month, officers of divisions inspect clothing, see them properly marked with name of the owner, and make out list of clothes. On first week-day in month, at evening quarters, each man will muster with his hammock, and officers of divisions will inspect the bedding. On the twelfth of the month, serve out small stores and make out requisitions for clothing. On the fifteenth of the month, issue clothing. If these days fall on Sunday, issue the following day. On the first day in month, the midshipmen will send to the Captain for inspection their journals, watch, and station bills. On first Thursday in month, scrub hammocks. On second Thursday in month, wash blankets. At a suitable time during the quarter, overhaul cables and shot lockers. Second and fourth Wednesdays, scrub windsails, etc. First and third Fridays, scrape masts. Second and fourth Saturdays, overhaul and mark clothing. Daily Routine-In Port.-Early daylight. Reveille: Call warrant officers and mates of decks ten minutes before. Call all hands, allowing twelve minutes to clear decks of hammocks, lay up rigging and sweep clean, pump ship out, wipe off paint-work, clean boats, clean ship outside, wash down, clean copper, place wash-deck gear to dry and square yards. 7:30 A.M. Inspect servants and boys. 7:45 A.M. Mate of berth-deck reports deck ready for breakfast. 7:50 A.M. Spread mess-tables. 8:00 A.M. Colors, breakfast, light smoking lamp, crew dress for the day, report chronometers wound. 8:45 A.M. All hands, out smoking lamp, clean gun bright-work, quarter gunners spread tarpaulins and get out cleaning rags, sick call. 9:00 A.M. Down wash-deck gear if dry, down all ditty boxes and clothes bags. 9:15 A.M. Knock off bright-work, clear up decks for quarters, sweep clean. 9:30 A.M. Quarters for inspection; drill as per routine. 11.30 A.M. Flemish down rigging aft if deck is dry, clean sweep down, ship's cook bring dinner to the mast. 11:45 A.M. Mate of berth-deck reports deck ready for dinner. 11:50 A.M. Spread mess-tables. Noon. Dinner, light smoking lamp. 1:00 P.M. Turn to, out smoking lamp, sweep clean. 2:00 P.M. Serve out provisions. 4:30 P.M. Lay up rigging, sweep down. 4:45 P.M. Mate of berth-deck reports deck ready for supper. 4:50 P.M. Spread mess-tables. 5:00 P.M. Supper, light smoking lamp, shift in blue, get out dirty clothes if the routine is to wash clothes next day. 5:30 P.M. All hands, out smoking lamp, sweep down. Ten minutes before sunset. Get clothes line ready for tricing up. Sunset. Colors, up boats, up wash-deck gear, trice up clothes line when colors come down, evening quarters. After Quarters. Pipe down hammocks, after hammocks light smoking lamp. 9:00 P.M. Tattoo, sound call at 8:50 P.M., pipe down, crew turn in and keep silence, set anchor watch. MONDAY.-Scrub clothes, scrub decks, ladders, etc., with sand. WEDNESDAY.-Scrub clothes and holystone decks. THURSDAY.-Scrub spar-deck without sand, ladders, gratings, boats' oars and masts with sand. FRIDAY.-Scrub clothes, scrub boat awnings, mess cloths, etc., scrub decks with sand. SATURDAY.-Holystone decks, ladders, and gratings, and scrub bright woodwork with sand and canvas. SUNDAY. Scrub decks without sand, and prepare for inspection. FRIDAYS.-Clean out galley funnel. At Sea.—5:00 A.м. Call idlers, lay up rigging and sweep clean, scrub clothes except on Sunday, execute morning orders, place wash-deck gear to dry, see all snug aloft, etc. 7:00 A.M. Call all hands, allowing ten minutes to clear decks of hammocks, serve out tea water, up ashes, if steaming. 7:15 A м. Master-at-arms inspects servants and boys, mate of berth-deck reports deck ready for breakfast. 7:20 A.M. Spread mess-tables. 7:30 A.M. Breakfast, light smoking lamp, crew dress for the day. 8:00 A.M. Relieve watch, wheel and look-out, report chronometers wound. 8:30 A M. 66 Turn hands to," clean gun bright-work, out smoking lamp. 9:00 AM. Sick call, put away all pea-jackets, ditty and clothes bags, down wash-deck gear, if dry; clear decks for quarters. 9:30 A.M. Quarters for inspection, drill as per routine, after drill watch below to have their bags. 11:00 A.M. Up ashes, if steaming. 11:30 A.M. Call Navigator, lay up rigging, sweep decks, clean out spit-boxes, ship's cook bring dinner to the mast. 11:50 A.M. Spread mess-tables. 12:00 M. Report latitude to commanding officer, dinner, light smoking lamp. 12:30 P.M. Relieve watch. 1:00 P.M. "Turn hands to," out smoking lamp, sweep decks, pipe down wash clothes, if dry; otherwise at 3:30 p.m. 1:30 P.M. Sound call for provisions. 3:00 P.M. Up ashes, if steaming. 3:30 P.M. Lay up rigging, sweep down, etc., serve out tea water. 3:50 P.M. Spread mess-tables. 4:00 P.M. Supper, light smoking lamp, shift in blue. 5:00 P.M. water in boats. Turn hands to," out smoking lamp, coxswains report breakers of Sunset. Evening quarters. Immediately after sunset. Serve out pea-jackets. Fifteen minutes after sunset. Pipe down hammocks, light running lights, light smoking lamp, up wash-deck gear and clothes lines. 8:00 P.M. Call the watch, out smoking lamp, muster the watch, see life-buoys in order and life-boats ready for lowering. Night look-outs to be stationed at dusk, and called down at daylight. A man on the fore-topsail yard when look-outs are not stationed. A man always to be stationed at life-buoy, night and day. When square-sails are set, men always at the halliards. Muster watch and life-boat crews at eight bells. The above routine is given subject to the approval of the commanding officer. The times will have to be modified to suit the season of the year, and the station to which a vessel is attached. Preparing Ship for Sea. Gun divisions are sent to quarters and the battery secured for sea. The officer of the forecastle will see to the following: Lower booms rigged in and secured: riding chain brought to, if in a single-deck ship, cat and fish fall rove; tacks and sheets hooked; studding-sails bent and gear rove; covers off head sails, chafing gear put on. The officers of the gangways will see to the following: Riding chain brought to the capstan, if a single-deck ship; that carpenters unship accommodation ladder; studding-sails bent and gear rove, chafing gear put on, covers off trysail, tacks and sheets hooked. The officer of the quarter-deck will see to the lowering apparatus on lifeboats, all davits rigged in and boats secured for sea, chafing gear put on, etc. Coxswains of boats and two boat-keepers will suffice for securing boats. In addition to these preparations made just before getting underway, the following duties are to receive attention in good season before putting to sea; The navigation officer should see that the compasses, timepieces, sandglasses, and log, have been verified, and that they and the chronometer are kept in their proper places and have a free motion. That the chronometers are well regulated, the rate known before sailing, and are regularly attended to. That everything belonging to the cables, such as the stoppers, hook-ropes, compressor-tackles and blocks, are ready for use. That the shackle-pins for the chains are kept well white-leaded, in order that the chains may be easily unshackled. That the vessel's draught of water be taken immediately before getting under way, and that hand leads and lines, properly marked and fitted, are placed in the channels abreast the mainmast. That the deep-sea lead and line are properly fitted, the latter being on a reel or in a tub; and, if a patent apparatus, that it is thoroughly understood and in good working order. He should see the tiller-ropes properly attended to and examined in port and at sea to detect chafes. If they are of raw hide, they should be occasionally oiled. The boatswain should see that the masts are upright, well stayed and greased, head booms well supported, yards square, lifts marked, heels of booms square and toggled ends, equally rigged out, gaskets passed square and at equal distances, ropes clear for running on deck and flemished down in the tops. The ends of all running rigging neatly hitched or pointed, square and "sharp up" marks on all braces. New topsail halliards well stretched and re-rove that they may not be come cable-laid when making sail.* He should see that the hawsers and towropes are so stowed that their ends may be passed up from the reels at any moment. Preventer braces, hammock girtlines and clothes lines in order, stern ladders in place and fitted with life lines. That ropes likely to unreeve in a squall, such as the main and jib-sheets, have an overhaul knot in the end. Besides the square mark on the braces, it is well to have a mark on the jib and spanker sheets, as they are frequently trimmed too flat. He should see that the laniards of the rigging are good, that the dead-eyes and ends of the shrouds are square. That the purchases, winding and rolling tackles, preventer-shrouds, storm-sails and gear, including relieving tackles, are fitted and at hand. That the running rigging all leads fair, and that mats, raw hide, scotchmen, and timenoguys, are placed about the rigging and yards, wherever they may prevent chafes and fouling. He should see that the ratlines of the lower and topmast rigging are trustworthy and square, and that defective ones are instantly replaced by new, so that the men may go aloft with confidence. That each top is supplied with a top-maul, secured by a laniard; and a small top-chest to contain marlinspikes, stoppers and jiggers. That stoppers are prepared and ready to be applied to the braces, sheets, halliards, etc., wherever they are belayed; and that the captains of the forecastle, masts, and tops, have always at hand jiggers to be applied to any rope when necessary. That chain slings for the yards and gaffs are properly fitted, and at hand for instant use. The gunner should see that the whole apparatus for securing and working the guns is complete, handspikes, port laniards, muzzle bags and lashings, priming The lower block of the topsail halliards should have a swivel hook for clearing when cable-laid. |