Page:Yachting wrinkles; a practical and historical handbook of valuable information for the racing and cruising yachtsman (IA yachtingwrinkles00keneiala).pdf/205

 luffs a little until the fore leech of the mainsail quivers, but this seems to deaden the Phantom's way very little. She is off, with a gleaming white bone in her teeth and showing a great burst of speed.

"Ready about!"

"Helm's a-lee.'

The boat swings into the wind like a top, and before you can say Jack Robinson she is filled and away on the other tack. But only a yachtsman can appreciate the smart handling of the craft. The setting up of the topmast-back-*stay while the vessel is in stays is work for men who are actually alive and haven't a lazy bone in their bodies. The same remark applies to trimming the head-sheets. Of course there are "belaying marks" showing where they are to be made fast, but smartness must prevail first, last, and all the time in these days of rapid-spinning boats.

And so back we fly through the squadron, most of them now under way. We luff up in the wind's eye for a minute or so and get another pull on the jib halyards, sweating them up quite hard. We see the jib-topsail clear for breaking out from the stops; and while we dodge about with head-sheets hauled to windward, waiting for the preparatory gun, we see the Ghost making for us and realize that if we are to secure the advantage of the windward berth and first away we must keep our weather eyes skinned.