Page:Small-boat sailing; an explanation of the management of small yachts, half-decked and open sailing-boats of various rigs; sailing on sea and on river; cruising, etc (IA smallboatsailing01knig).pdf/146

 the wind being moderate, is as follows:—Heave short, that is, get up the chain until it is nearly straight up and down, and the yacht is almost over her anchor. Hoist the mainsail. Trip the anchor smartly, and just as it is leaving the ground hoist the jib and foresail; at the same time cant the vessel over on the required tack by putting the helm to port or starboard, as the case may be, for the tide passing under an anchored vessel gives her steerage way, which she preserves for a short time after the anchor is a-weigh. To cant the vessel the quicker, keep the foresail to windward by hoisting it with its weather-sheet belayed (if necessary, keep the jib also to windward), and ease off the main-sheet. As soon as the vessel has paid off sufficiently and her mainsail is filling, let the head-sails draw. If you wish to sail close-hauled, do not flatten in your mainsheet until you have gathered good steerage way. If you wish to run before the wind, ease the mainsheet well off, and you may keep the peak lowered until the vessel's head is well round.

It of course requires two hands to get a vessel under way in the manner described above. But on a small cutter the operation can be performed single-handed. Hoist jib and mainsail before heaving upon the cable, leaving the jib-sheets flowing, but not so loosely that they can get entangled or get foul of the rigging. Heave on the cable; when it is straight up and down flatten in the weather jib-sheet and lash the helm to windward with a line.