Page:Yachting wrinkles; a practical and historical handbook of valuable information for the racing and cruising yachtsman (IA yachtingwrinkles00keneiala).pdf/214

 "Take in the jib-topsail!" cries our skipper, and this is an easy task, for the enormous sail is almost becalmed. It is soon spilled, stopped up and bundled below. Foresail and jib are neatly set and their sheets trimmed down to the marks.

"See the spinnaker gear clear for taking in," is the next command. And this being done, there is silence for the next minute or two. All hands gather round the mast. One hand stands by to let go the outhaul, another the halyards, while all get ready to grapple with and spill and smother the bellying duck and bring it into subjection to the deck.

We are almost on top of the mark when the skipper sings out: "In spinnaker!"

As the outhaul is slacked, the men, grabbing the foot of the sail, lug it in, and, spilling the wind out of the flapping canvas, wrestle with it and victoriously overcome it, until it lies an inert mass at their feet. The boom is then topped up and all hands lie aft to tend the main-*sheet, which is stretched along the deck to rally in quickly. The jib and foresail are set already and trimmed down to the marks. A couple of men stand by ready to "come up" the topmast-backstay and get it set up on the other side before an undue strain comes on the spar.

"Now, boys, haul in the main-sheet," says the skipper as he shifts the helm