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/90

 CHAPTER V

OPEN SAILING-BOATS WITH BOOM-SAILS, AND HALF-DECKED BOATS

The Una rig—Balance-reefs—The sliding-gunter—The balance-lug—Main and mizzen rig—The sloop—Half-decked boats.

The open-boat rigs described in the last chapter require no booms, and are therefore the safest for the novice's first ventures on the water. A boom much increases the danger of sailing an open boat; even when the sheet is let go a sail bent on a boom holds a great deal of wind, and an accidental jibe in a strong breeze is likely to cause a capsize.

But so soon as the amateur sailor has acquired some experience of seamanship, he will not be content to use sails without booms on his boat. For, as was explained in the last chapter, a sail is rendered far more effective when its foot is extended on a boom. When the boat is running, a sail that has no boom forms into a bag, and does not present its full area to the wind; it cannot be made to stand quite flat even on a wind, and though it jibes with safety, it is more liable to accidental jibes than a sail provided with a boom.