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/75

 water, and though not exactly beautiful to look upon, she will sail fairly well, and is incontestably the cheapest of all boats to build. Indeed, so simple is the construction, that, if proper instructions are given to him, any village carpenter can turn out a craft of this description; and an amateur of small means, possessing some knowledge of the use of tools, can build one for himself out of a few deal planks, and some hard wood for stem, keel, and knees. If the boat has a centre-board (which is far more difficult to construct than lee-boards) this should be of wood, not of iron; and, having plenty of beam, she should need no ballast. With such a boat, which with sail, oars, etc., should not cost more than four pounds, the novice can with advantage pass his first apprenticeship at sailing.

Of course, with such a craft one should not venture into rough water. I was compelled to do so once, and passed through strange experiences, in the course of which I made some discoveries as to the seaworthy qualities (in a novel sense of the term, as I shall have to explain) of this sort of boat. It was during the Spanish-American War, and in my capacity of war correspondent of the Times, attached to the Spanish side, I was ordered to go to Havana, which was then being blockaded by the United States squadron. Having made several attempts to get through the blockade, either by running it or legitimately, and having failed to accomplish my purpose in consequence of the difficulties put in my