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/157

 the after-sails, so that the vessel remains in good sailing trim, having a decided tendency to come up into the wind, while yet not carrying excessive weather helm. Thus if a large jib be changed for a small one, and the foresail be reefed, while the mainsail is left standing, the vessel will gripe and the tiller will have to be put hard down to keep her off the wind, the rudder being at such an angle as to seriously retard the vessel's speed. On the other hand, if the mainsail be reefed while the whole foresail and the big jib are left on her, the vessel will probably carry a lee helm, which, as has already been explained, no yacht should under any circumstances be allowed to do; among other reasons, because, when in that dangerous trim, she will be pinned down and possibly be capsized by a squall instead of luffing up into it.

A whole mainsail and a whole foresail can be carried after the first jib has been exchanged for the second, without materially increasing a vessel's weather-helm; but on most yachts whenever the foresail is reefed the mainsail should be reefed also. Thus in a fresh breeze a cutter will generally be seen sailing under single-reefed mainsail, single-reefed foresail, and third jib. In a heavy gale it is usual to stow the foresail, and to sail under trysail and storm-jib.

When setting a smaller jib reef the bowsprit, for a small jib hauled half way along a bowsprit strains the spar, which at that point is not supported by