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/172

 middle of a rope about twice the length of the spar, the rope being made fast at either end to the extremities of the spar, thus forming a span, and keeping the spar broadside on to the seas. A bit of ballast should be attached to the lower corner of the sail in order to sink it and keep it in a vertical position, so that it may offer the greatest resistance to the water. The spar to some extent serves as a breakwater as well as a floating anchor, and prevents the seas from breaking near the vessel.

When riding to a drogue it will be well, unless the gale be very heavy, to have a reefed mizzen set if the vessel be a yawl, and a reefed trysail if she be a cutter; in either case the sail must be sheeted amidships.

If running for a bar harbour with the wind on shore and the sea breaking heavily on the bar, a small drogue can be towed astern with great advantage, as it will prevent the sea from driving the vessel's stern round and broaching her to.

A drogue which appears to be very well suited for small craft is now manufactured by R. C. Lacey, 75 Summerly Street. A copper oil distributor can be attached at pleasure.

The extraordinary effect of pouring oil upon the troubled waters has been fully demonstrated by a series of experiments that have been recently conducted in stormy weather at the entrance of some of our bar harbours; and even large vessels have been saved from destruction by the use of a few