Page:Yachting wrinkles; a practical and historical handbook of valuable information for the racing and cruising yachtsman (IA yachtingwrinkles00keneiala).pdf/307

 on a cruise. They are excellent for the compounding of temperance and other beverages.

Do not fail to include in your list of necessaries a nautical almanac, which is full of useful information. Among the subjects are the time of sunrise and sunset, lighthouses and lightships, the moon's phases, compass variations, tide tables, etc. Do not leave it ashore as did the Dutchman his anchor.

Watertight sailcovers are great safeguards against mildew, but should not be used to cover sails already wet. Dry your sails thoroughly before you furl them snugly. If wet, leave them in loose folds secured with a stop or two.

If your boat is bigger than a Herreshoff thirty-footer, which has no accommodations at all, by all means get into the wholesome habit of sleeping aboard and thus avoid the temptations in the way of dissipation which the shore has extended to mariners since the days of Jason and the good ship Argo. Remember that a windsail judiciously set to catch every stray breath of air, with its lower end down the forehatch or the cabin skylight, will keep the air below sufficiently cool for comfort, and refreshing sleep will follow as a matter of course.

It is quite the correct thing for the owner of a racing yacht to invite a friend or two to go with him on a cruise and to accept their help in racing the yacht in the daily runs from port to