Heading up into the storm will be rougher but retain a larger degree of control over the ship and the helm. Running isn't a bad option but waves breaking over the stern and sudden changes could be problematic and dangerous. Your options were usually either to run before the storm or head up into it. What would happen though would be that men aloft would be brought down to the deck for safety and sails would be reefed and brought in. Occasionally you could lash the helm fast but that meant that you would be in trouble if you had to use it suddenly. If it got bad enough they would wake up the rest of the crew. One preparation which might be made, if there was enough warning of the building storm, and if the crew were large enough to accomplish it safely, would be to strike the Royal and T'gallant yards, and the T'gallant masts, as this would reduce weight and windage aloft.įor the most part there would always be crew on deck standing watch with at least one officer. (Being caught off a lee shore in a hurricane force storm was very dangerous.) Running would be especially beneficial if your ship was in the "safe quadrant" (to the left of the track of the hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere - reversed in the Southern), as running before the wind would take you out of the path of the storm, and into lesser winds and calmer seas. Running would be safer in most circumstance, as long as there was sea room to leeward. There seems to be some disagreement about whether heaving to, or keeping the bow into the wind is better, or whether running with the wind under bare poles or a storm headsail is safer. Many good answers here, and some contradictory ones. Previous AMAs | Previous Roundtables Featuresįeature posts are posted weekly. May 25th | Panel AMA with /r/AskBibleScholars Please Subscribe to our Google Calendar for Upcoming AMAs and Events To nominate someone else as a Quality Contributor, message the mods. Our flaired users have detailed knowledge of their historical specialty and a proven record of excellent contributions to /r/AskHistorians. Please Read and Understand the Rules Before Contributing. Report Comments That Break Reddiquette or the Subreddit Rules. Serious On-Topic Comments Only: No Jokes, Anecdotes, Clutter, or other Digressions. Provide Primary and Secondary Sources If Asked. Write Original, In-Depth and Comprehensive Answers, Using Good Historical Practices. Questions should be clear and specific in what they ask, and should be able to get detailed answers from historians whose expertise is likely to be in particular times and places. Nothing Less Than 20 Years Old, and Don't Soapbox. Be Nice: No Racism, Bigotry, or Offensive Behavior.
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