National Défense

Defence nationale

Reference Guide For Rigging and Sailing

the 27 ft Service Whaler
(ENGLISH)

Cette publication est disponible en français sous le numéro A-CR-050-880/PC-002.

Issued on Authority of the Chief of Reserves and Cadets

Canada
 Table of Contents

Introduction ……3

Rigging Terms of a 27-ft Whaler ……3-4

Parts of a 27-ft Whaler ……………… 5-8

Sailing Rig of a 27-ft Whaler ………9-20

Sail Drill for a 27-ft Whaler – Securing …………...20-21

Sail Drill for a 27-ft Whaler – Rigging for Sail ………………21-24

Sail Drill for a 27-ft Whaler – Duties when Underway ……………….24

Sail Drill for a 27-ft Whaler – Furl and Stow Sail, Mast, & Gear ……………………….24-25

Terms Used in Sailing ……………….25-27

General Commands ……………….27

Mooring and General Boat Commands …………………….. …27

Line Commands 27-28

Points of Sail ………. 28

Bend a Sail to a Spar ……….29

Annex A – Orders for Sailing a Whaler …………………30-31

Annex B – Orders for Pulling a Whaler ……………….32

Annex C – Orders for Whaler under Motor Power ………………...33-37

Annex D – General Terms ………………...38-42

Annex E – References …………..42

2
Introduction

This manual is intended as a reference guide to assist Instructors in identifying parts of the 27-ft
Service Whaler, as well as to familiarize Staff with the rigging, piloting, and various sea drills
associated with the vessel.

Please note that bolded items are defined in a glossary of terms.

Rigging Terms of a 27-ft Whaler

1. The parts of a three-sided and four-sided sail are named in the diagram below:

3
2. The image below illustrates the rig of a 27-ft service whaler. Details are common to most
fore-and-aft boats.

3. A Bolt rope is the roping on the edge of a sail. It is always sewn on the side of the sail,
which will be to port when the sail is set.

4. A Sheet is a rope bent to the clew of a sail. It is used to trim the sail as required and is
named after the sail to which it is bent. Example: foresheet, mainsheet, or mizzensheet. To
check a sheet is to ease it off so that the sail is eased out, to “aft” a sheet is to haul it in so that the
clew of the sail is hauled aft, and “to let fly” a sheet is to let it run so that the sail flaps, spilling
the wind from it.

4
 Parts of a 27-ft Whaler

1. Displayed below are various whaler images and part identification.

Kisby Ring

Life Lines Fenders

Bollard Pin

Towing Bollard

Anchor

Gunwale

5
 Crutch

Eyeplate
or
Chainplate

Lanyard

Cleat

Crutch Plate

6
 Thwart
Stretcher Pins

Stirrups

Stretcher

Another View

7
 Center Board Housing

Keel
Housing

Lanyard

Center Board
Safety Pin

Center board
Winch

8
 Sailing Rig of a 27-ft Whaler

1. The mainmast is stepped in the keelson, held by an iron clamp to the second thwart, and
stayed by two shrouds set up with lanyards to eyeplates in the gunwales and by a forestay of
wire rope secured to a long shackle on the stem.

2nd Thwart

Belaying Pin
(Underneath)

Main Mast
Clamp

Mast Step Keelson

Clamp Shut to
Secure Mast to
Thwart with
bottom end in
Keelson

9
2. The mizzenmast passes through a specially fitted crosspiece and is stepped in the hog
abaft the stern benches; it is not stayed. The boom of the mizzen can be triced up by a topping
lift, and its heel is hinged to the mizzenmast.

Mizzenmast

Another view

10
3. The sails comprise of a 1) foresail, 2) standing-lug mainsail, and 3) triangular mizzen,
the foot of which is laced to a boom. In addition, a trysail is also provided for use as a stormsail
in place of the mainsail, or as a spinnaker for which latter purpose a spreader (or baring-out
spar) is provided for bearing out its foot.

4. The foresail can be single-reefed and the mainsail double-reefed utilizing reef points
on the sail. To reef a sail is to reduce the area it covers to the wind in order to prevent the boat
from heeling over too far or capsizing. A sail is reefed by gathering up its foot to the required
line of reef points and then stopping each together round the gathered up foot with a reef-knot.

Single Reef Points on a Fore Sail

Foresail Reefed

11
 Mainsail single reefed

5. The fore and main halyards are single whips rove through sheaves at the head of the
mast and set up to belaying pins under the second and third thwarts – the fore halyard is of
cordage and the main halyard is a wire rope pendant tailed with cordage.

Fore and main halyards

12
6. The main yard is hooked to a traveler shackled to the main halyard, and the tack of the
mainsail is bowsed down by a tack-tackle rove to the keelson.

13
 Traveler

Yard hooked into traveler

14
7. The luff of the foresail is clipped to the forestay by spring hanks.

Luff clipped to forestay by spring hanks

15
8. The mizzen is laced to its mast and boom using methods shown below

16
9. The foresheets halyard consist of a single piece of rope spliced to clip-hooks (aka Sister
Clips) which hook into the head that are then hauled on to pull the foresail up into position.
Another piece of rope is cow hitched to the clew and then becomes the port and starboard
foresheets for the foresail.

Foresheets, clip-hooks, and the clew of the foresail

17
10. The mainsheets consist of two double whips rove through bullseyes and joined by a pair
of clip-hooks to the clew.

Image 10a – Mainsheets

(Need Photo of Main sheets)

Bullseyes with whips roved through

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11. The mizzensheet is rove from the boom through a block or a deadeye on the sternpost
to a cleat on the mizzenmast.

Mizzensheet from boom through block/deadeye on stern post

12. Lizard bullseyes are made fast to the risings and are provided as fairleads for the
foresheets.

Image 12 – Lizard Bullseyes acting as Fairleads for foresheet

(Need Photo)

13. Eyeplates are provided in the sternsheets for the standing blocks of the mainsheets.

Eyeplates, sternsheets, and standing blocks

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14. The mainsail is fitted with brails and provided with a spreader (or bearing out spar)
for bearing out its foot when the boat is reaching or running.

Brail and Spreader/Bearing out Spar being used on foot of mainsail

Sail Drill for 27-ft Whaler - Securing

1. If the boat is at the boom she should be made fast to an outer lizard so that the mast and
yard clear the boom guy.

2. Sailing Gear should be placed as follows:

a) Mainmast amidships, heef forward.

b) Main yard and mainsail in their cover alongside the mainmast or secured to
mainmast using a marlin-hitch, peak aft.

c) Mizzenmast and mizzen in their cover, or secured to mast using marlyn

hitch, heef aft, on the stern benches.

d) Boat’s sailing bag, containing foresail, foresheets and lizards, mainsheets,

main tack-tackles, stormsails, lacing, codline, twine and shackles, in the
sternsheets

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 e) All crutches unshipped and the oars stowed each side in their beckets.

Sail Drill for 27-ft Whaler – Rigging for Sail

1. When aboard a whaler, there are various designations that are utilized to indicate the
crew’s role and responsibility.

a) Coxswain – Pilots boat and issues command. Is in charge of the Mizzen

mast.
b) Stroke
c) Bowman/lookout (referred to as ‘Bow’)
d) No. 2 – stationed at… (near mast)
e) No. 3 – stationed at … (midships)
f) No. 4 – stationed at … (before stroke)

2. At the command: “UP MAST, RIG THE BOAT” Nos. 2, 3, 4 and Stroke launch the
mast aft until the heel is clear of the second thwart.

3. No. 2 drops keel no more than 3/4 maximum using either a lever or crank (varies
between whalers)

4. Nos 3 and 4 and Stroke then lift the mast upright while nos. 2 guides the heel into the
mast step and clamps it in place using the main mast clamp.

5. The Bowman and no 2 guide clear away the forestay and shrouds and set them up taut,
taking care to divide the strain equally between the shrouds.

6. No. 3 clears away the running rigging and ensures that the traveller and fore halyard
clip-hooks are hooked to the becket on the mast.

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 7. The Coxswain and Stroke secure the rudder lanyard inboard and ship the rudder, yokes
(yoke plate), yoke lines and tiller.

Yoke Plate

Yoke Lines or
Yoke Chains

Stern Post
or Mizzen
Post??

Tiller
Yoke?

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Sternsheets

8. The Coxswain and Stroke then ensure that the slings and other gear are clear of the wake
of the mizzenmast. They then stand the mast vertically on the cross bench and step it through its
cross piece. They then clear away the mizzen and lower the boom, clip and mouse the mizzen
sheet deadeye to the stern post, and see that the mizzensheet is led between the yoke-lines. The
mizzen may then be sheeted aft to steady the boat, or it may be topped up.

9. Bow (bowman) hooks the tack of the foresail to the tack hook on the stem post using a
bowline, hanks the luff to the forestay, clips the fore halyard and sheets to the head and clew
respectively (again using bowlines) and mouses the hooks.

10. No. 2 hoists and lowers the foresail to see that all is clear.

11. No. 3 reeves the foresheets through their lizards and secures the latter to the rising each
side of the thwart.

12. Nos 3 and 4 remove the mainsail and yard from their cover, clear away the mainsail,
launch the yard forward and hook it to the traveller, ensuring that the fore and main halyards are
clear of the hoist.

13. No. 2 shackles the tack-tackle to the eyebolt in the keelson at the foot of the mast and
hooks the other end to the tack of the mainsail.

14. Stroke hooks the running blocks of the mainsheets to the clew of the mainsail and their
standing blocks of the mainsheets to the clew of the mainsail and their standing blocks to the
eyebolts each side of the sternsheets, and mouses the clip hooks.

15. No 3 reeves the brails from the leach through the deadeyes at the throat of the mainsail.

16. No. 3 brails up and then hoist the sail, No. 4 belays the halyard, No. 2 bowses down the
tack-tackle.

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17. It is a good plan, particularly with an inexperienced crew, to lead the fore halyard under
the mast thwart to starboard of the mast and belaying pin under third thwart, and to lead the main
halyard under the mast thwart to port of the mast and belay it to a belaying pin under the third
thwart – the halyards are then under the eye of the Coxswain and clear of gear around the mast.

18. To belay the halyard, it should first be passed over the after edge of the thwart and half
round the belaying pin underneath, and then be fully set up by swigging off on the bight and
taking down the resultant slack - the halyard should then be passed over the thwart, half round the
belaying pin from forward and then over the thwart, and then be secured by jamming the bight
between the top of the thwart and the original hauling part. If thus belayed there will be no
complete turn round the thwart and the halyard will run free when cast off.

Sail Drill for 27-ft Whaler – Duties When Underway

1. Bow always keeps a lookout ahead and to leeward, and tends the forestay and the foresail
and its tack.

2. No. 2 tends the fore halyard and the brails, sees that the running rigging roudn the mast is
clear for running, and that the tack-tackle, shrouds, and forestay are correctly set up.

3. No. 3 tends the foresheets, spinnaker halyard and spreader, and assists No.2 as necessary.

4. No. 4 tends the main halyard, drop keel and spinnaker sheets, and assists Stroke and No.
3 as necessary.

5. Stroke tends the mainsheets and assists the Coxswain with the mizzen as necessary.

6. Coxswain tends the mizzensheet and topping lift.

Sail Drill for 27-ft Whaler – Furl and Stow Sails, Mast and Gear

1. At the command: “DOWN SAILS, STOW GEAR” No. 2 lowers the foresail, which is
gathered in by bow, and unhooks the tack and foresheets, unhanks the sail from the forestay,
and, if dry, folds it up.

2. No. 3 unreeves and makes up the foresheets. If the spinnaker has been used and is dry it
is folded by Nos. 3 and 4 and lashed with its sheet and halyard.

3. No 4 lowers the main halyard while No. 3 gathers in the mainsail and No. 2 unhooks the
tack-tackle and the yard from the traveller.

4. Nos 3,4, and Stroke then fleet they yard aft, and, if dry, fold and roll the sail to the yard,
lashing it with the brails. Stroke unhooks the mainsheets and makes them up.

5. No. 2 hooks the fore halyard and traveller to the becket on the mast and unreeves the
shrouds.

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6. Bow unreeves the forestay and hands it to No. 2, who then secures the stay and shrouds
to the mast by crossing them alternately and lashing the ends to the mast with the lanyards.

7. The Coxswain and Stroke unshackle and unreeve the mizzen-sheet, top up the mizzen
boom, and, if dry, fold the mizzen round its mast and boom and lash it in place with the topping
lift. They then unship the mizzen-mast and lay it to one side of the thwarts, then unship the
rudder, yokes, yoke-lines and tiller and lay them in the stern-sheets.

8. At the command: “DOWN MAST” Nos. 3 and 4 lay hold of the mainmast, No. 2
unclamps it, and then all three lift it clear of its step and lower it to Stroke and Coxswain.

9. No. 4 raises the drop-keel.

10. The foresail, spinnaker, sheets, tackles and any other loose gear are handed to Stroke who
stows them in the boat’s sailing bag.

Terms Used in Sailing

1. Close-Hauled: A boat is “close-hauled”, or sailing “by” or “on the wind”, when all her
sails are drawing and she is sailing as close as possible to the direction from which the wind is
blowing. Few Service Boats will sail to advantage when heading closer than about 41/2 points
(50 degrees) from the direction of the wind.

2. Sailing Free: A boat is sailing “Free” whenever her sails are filled and she is not sailing
close-hauled; i.e. when sailing so that she is free to maneuver on either side of her course without
having to go about.

3. Reaching: A boat is “reaching” when she is sailing free with the wind abeam or before
the beam, but is not sailing close-hauled. She is on a “close reach” or “fetching” when she is
nearly close-hauled, and on a “broad reach” when the wind is abeam. She is said to have a
“soldier’s wind” if she can sail to her destination on one tack and return from it on the other tack.

4. Running: A boat is running when she is sailing with the wind abaft the beam.

5. Port and Starboard Tacks: When either close-hauled or reachign a boat is on the “port
tack” when she has the wind on ther port side, and on the “starboard tack” when she has the wind
on her starboard side.

6. Tacking, or Going About: A boat tacks or goes about when she changes from one tack
to the other by altering course into the wind and then away from it on the opposite tack. The
order “ready about” is the warning given to the crew to stand by to tack.

7. Beating: A boat is beating when she works close-hauled to windward in a series of

alternate tacks.

8. Wearing: A boat wears when she changes from one tack to the other by turning her head
away form the wind and brining her stern up into it, then gybing and brining her head towards the
wind again but on the opposite tack.

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9. Port and Starboard Gybes: When a boat is running she is said to be on the “port gybe”
when the wind is blowing on her port side from abaft the beam and her mainsail is set to
starboard, and she is said to be on the “starboard gybe” when the wind is blowing on her
starboard side from abaft the beam and her mainsail is set to port.

10. Running by the Lee: A boat is running by the lee when she is running with her mainsail
set on the windward side; she is then very liable to gybe, which is dangerous in strong winds.

11. Brought by the Lee: A boat which is running before the wind is said to be brought by
the lee when the wind suddenly changes from one quarter to the other; this often happens in
squally weather owing to a shift in wind, but may also be due to a sudden yaw caused by bad
steering.

12. To Gybe: A boat which is running before the wind gybes when, either purposely or
accidentally, the mainsail is brought or blown across to the opposite side of the boat. A boat
therefore gybes when she wears, or if she is brought by the lee.

13. To Miss Stays: A boat misses stays when she fails to go about from one tack to the other
and pays off on her original tack.

14. In Irons: A boat is in irons when she fails to go about from one tack to the other and lies
head to wind unable to pay off on either tack.

15. The Helm: In directing the steering of a sailing vessel the tiller is referred to as the helm,
and in directing its movement reference is made to the weather or lee side of the vessel (i.e. to the
upper or lower side, respectively).

16. To Weather: An object is to pass it on its windward side.

17. To Luff: Is to bring the boat’s head closer to the wind.

18. Flat Aft: The sails are said to be flat aft when the are sheeted home as tautly as possible.

19. To Back a Sail: A sail is said to be backed when it is trimmed to catch the wind on its
fore side, and so tends to stop the boat’s headway and drive her astern.

20. Flat Aback: A boat is said to be taken flat aback when, owing to a sudden shift of wind
or alteration of course, the wind suddenly fills the sails on their wrong side and so reduces the
boat’s speed or gives her sternway.

21. Heave To: A vessel is hove to when she is lying stopped but can be got under way
immediately. A sailing boat or ship under way is hove to by backing one or more of her sails
against the wind.

22. To Hug the Wind: Is to sail as close to it as possible.

23. To Pinch: Means to hug the wind too closely so that the sails are not properly filled and
the boat therefore loses way.

24. To Shorten Sail: Is to take in sail.

25. To Set Sail or Make Sail: Is to hoist Sails and get under way.

26
26. To Goosewing: Is to set alternate sails to starboard and port when running before the
wind.

27: The Wind’s Eye: Refers to the actual direction from which the wind is blowing at any
given moment.

28. Make it Fast: An order to secure a lin

General Commands

1. Preparatory command is "Stand by to..."

2. That's Well! Stop a task. Not urgent.

3. Avast! Urgent stop.

4. Modifiers:
a. Easy: very slowly
b. Handsomely: Do it slowly.
c. Cheerly: mid-speed
d. Smartly: Do it with vigor.

Mooring and General Boat Commands

1. Cast Off! Only used with the boat's own mooring lines. The line is unwrapped from the
cleat or bitt on the dock or other vessel, so that it can run free.

2. Take In (a line)! Pull the specified line into the boat, typically the bow painter or a
mooring line, coiling it and stowing it in its place.

3. Shove Off! Push off from the dock, wall, shore, or other boat.

4. Fend Off! or Fend the Boat! Using the oars or boathooks, keep the boat from brushing
against another boat, dock, wall, or rock.

Line Handling Commands

1. Let Go (a line)! or Cast Loose (a line)! or Loose (a line)! Undo the rope from the cleat,
keeping a firm grip on it and with the line running under the cleat so as to be able to apply force
to it.

2. Haul (a line)! Pull in the line.

3. Slacken (a line)! or Ease Off! Give slack as it is required, keeping the line taut but not
strained.

27
4. Pay out (a line)! Feed the line past the cleat or belaying pin. This is used when Slacken
doesn't let the line run freely enough to allow the line to be hauled or when used for an anchoring
line.

5. Set Taut (a line)! Remove the slack from the line.

6. Clear (a line)! Untangle the line.

7. Hold (a line)!, Check (a line)!, Snub (a line)! These commands are similar, though vary
in degree. In all cases, the line is passed under the arm of the cleat or around the belaying pin.
Tension is kept on the line to prevent it from moving. When snubbed, the line is held so that it
won't move under any circumstances unless it feels that the line is about to part. When held, the
line is allowed to move if a reasonable force is applied to it. Checking is somewhere between
holding and snubbing.

8. Hang On (a line)! Hold the line. In this case, the line is NOT passed around a cleat,
belaying pin, or bitt.

9. Make (a line)! or Belay (a line)! Secure the line on the cleat or belaying pin.

Points of Sail

1. The points of sail are shown and described in the below diagram.

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Bend a Sail to a Spar

1. The head of a mainsail is bent ot a yard or a gaff by throat and peak earrings and a
lacing – the throat earring is the fixed anchorage and the peak the movable one.

2. The foot of a mainsail or a trysail may be bent to a boom by tack and clew earrings and
also be laced to the boom – the tack earring is the fixed anchorage and the clew the movable one.

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Annex A: Commands for 27-ft Whaler Under Sail

1. General Commands/Coming About:

ORDERS ACTION COMMENTS

MAKE SAIL Order to Hoist Sails and Get Usually follows command of
Underway “UP MAST, RIG THE
BOAT”
READY ABOUT Look around at the crew and This will let the crew know
make sure they are getting that they are going to have to
ready reset the sails and change
position in the boat. Crew
should respond with
“READY” as an
acknowledgment.
COMING ABOUT Push the tiller away from you Given once the Cox’n sees
Or that the crew is ready to
LEE HO! change tack. The Cox’n will
push the tiller towards the sails
the bow of the whaler will
head to wind and the sails will
start to luff as the bow passes
through the wind.
LET FLY Let the main and foresail Do not say this order until the
sheets out bow of the boat is directly in
the eye of the wind.
BRAIL UP Haul down on the brail
DIP THE YARD Pull the yard to the front of the Crew member assigned to the
mast yard will grab the yard line
and pull it down and over to
the side, moving the yard to
the forward side of he mast.
This allows the main sail to
fill with wind. If cannot reach
yard, haul in on main sheet to
move.
HAUL IN ON THE FORE Haul in on the main and Given once the sails begin to
AND MAIN foresheets fill. Nos… will haul in on
their respective sheets.
Or

READY THE FORE AND

MAIN
LET FLY THE BRAIL Let the brail out quickly but Brail must be let out all of the
with control way before the main sail can
be trimmed properly.
UP HELM Tiller is moved towards the
Or weather or upper side of the
boat
BEAR UP

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DOWN HELM Tiller is moved towards the lee
or lower side.
KEEP AWAY Order to the helmsman to Is used instead of “bear up”
allow the bows to pay off the when the movement required
wind is not so drastic.
NO HIGHER Is an order to the helmsman to
steer closer to the wind
NOTHING OFF Is an order to the helmsman
not to allow the bows to pay
off any further from the wind.

Note: Commands in Yellow/GREEN are said in quick succession, and with practiced crew,
as if one order.

2. Commands for Gybing

ORDERS ACTION COMMENTS

READY TO GYBE Look around at the crew and This will let the crew know
make sure they are getting that they are going to have to
ready reset the sails and remain in
position. Crew should
respond with “READY” as an
acknowledgment.
GYBE HO! Pull the tiller towards you Given once the Cox’n sees
that the crew is ready to
change tack. The Cox’n will
pull the tiller away from the
sails.
BRAIL UP Haul down on the brail Given once the main sail starts
to spill wind and the stern is
about to pass through the
wind.
HAUL IN ON THE FORE Haul in on the main and Given once the sails begin to
AND MAIN foresheets fill. Nos… will haul in on
their respective sheets.
Or

READY THE FORE AND

MAIN
LET FLY THE BRAIL Let the brail out quickly but Brail must be let out all of the
with control. way before the main sail can
be trimmed properly.

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Annex B: Orders For Boat Pulling

1. Orders to the oarsmen are obeyed after completing one full stroke after the order is given. The
exception to this is the order “backwater” or “Holdwater”.

2. On obeying a pulling order the crew take their time from the stroke oarsman.

3. When “port” or “starboard” is included in a pulling order, it refers to the oars on the respective
sides of the boat.

ORDERS ACTION
SHIP YOUR OARS The crew slide their oars out to rowing distance
and keep the oars parallel to the water and
feathered.
STAND BY Crew leans ahead keeping arms straight and
oars just out of the water ready to pull
SHOVE OFF Order to shove the boat off with looms of oars
from the ships’ side, landing place, or from the
bottom if grounded.
GIVE AWAY TOGETHER Order to start pulling and is obeyed by the
whole crew.
OARS Order to stop pulling. Crew then sits upright
on thwarts with blades of oars feathered.
LAY ON OARS Allows crew to rest on oars, after resting the
order “oars” will again be given.
BACK TOGETHER The whole crew back water by pushing on the
looms of the oars instead of pulling.
STROKE TOGETHER The whole crew give one stroke together
EASY ALL The crew pull less vigorously to reduce the
speed of the boat.
MIND YOUR OARS A warning to the crew to keep blades of oars
clear of obstructions.
EYES IN THE BOAT To keep the eyes of the crew from wandering
and pay attention to their duties.
BOW Order to bowman of he boat, to boat his oar
prior to coming alongside a ship or jetty he
completes one full stroke and then boats the
oar.
WAY ENOUGH The crew pull one complete stroke and then
boat oars.
BOAT YOUR OARS The crew unship the oars from the crutches and
lay them fore and aft in the boat on their
respective sides.

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Annex C: Orders for Whaler under Motor Power

1. Orders of a Helmsman fall into two categories: rudder commands and Engine Commands

2. Standard orders to the helmsman (without use of a compass) and their corresponding
meaning are as follows. Note that the amount of degrees various between different classes of
ship, and since the Service Whaler has no angle indicator, the instructor will have to coach the
candidate on the tiller positions for the associated commands (see chart proceeding commands)

3. A coxswain/conning officer’s response of VERY WELL indicates that the situation is

understood, for example, given to the steersman after his report. "All right" should not be used
since it might be construed to mean "right rudder".

Orders Actions Comments

RIGHT STANDARD Helmsman moves right 60 Helmsman should reply
RUDDER degrees, moving boat to Port. “RIGHT STANDARD
RUDDER, AYE SIR.”
Coxswain should follow-up
with the command of
“STEADY/STEADY AS
SHE GOES” when the boat
has reached the desired course.
Helmsman should reply”
“STEADY ON COURSE,
AYE SIR” and the
Coxswain/Conning Officer
should reply “VERY WELL”
LEFT STANDARD Helmsman moves tiller to the Helmsman should reply
RUDDER left 60 degrees, moving the “LEFT STANDARD
boat to the starboard. RUDDER, AYE SIR.”
Coxswain should follow-up
with the command of
“STEADY/STEADY AS
SHE GOES” when the boat
has reached the desired course.
Helmsman should reply”
“STEADY ON COURSE,
AYE SIR” and the
Coxswain/Conning Officer
should reply “VERY WELL”
RIGHT # DEGREE RUDDER Indicates a turn of the rudder a Helmsman should reply
designated number of degrees “RIGHT # DEGREE
to the right or to the left of RUDDER, AYE SIR.”
amidships.
LEFT # DEGREE RUDDER Indicates a turn of the rudder a Helmsman should reply
designated number of degrees “LEFT # DEGREE
to the right or to the left of RUDDER, AYE SIR.”
amidships.

33
RIGHT HANDSOMELY Helmsman eases tiller to the Helmsman should reply
right to approximately 30 “EASING RUDDER
degrees, turning the boat RIGHT, AYE SIR.”
slowly to the Port. Coxswain should follow-up
with the command of
“STEADY/STEADY AS
SHE GOES” when the boat
has reached the desired course.
Helmsman should reply”
“STEADY ON COURSE,
AYE SIR” and the
Coxswain/Conning Officer
should reply “VERY WELL”
LEFT HANDSOMELY Helmsman eases tiller to the Helmsman should reply
left to approximately 30 “EASING RUDDER
degrees, turning the boat RIGHT, AYE SIR.”
slowly to the Starboard. Coxswain should follow-up
with the command of
“STEADY/STEADY AS
SHE GOES” when the boat
has reached the desired course.
Helmsman should reply”
“STEADY ON COURSE,
AYE SIR” and the
Coxswain/Conning Officer
should reply “VERY WELL”
EASE YOUR RUDDER Helmsman decreases rudder Helmsman should reply
angle by half. “EASING RUDDER, AYE
SIR” Coxswain should
follow-up with the command
of “STEADY/STEADY AS
SHE GOES” when the boat
has reached the desired course.
Helmsman should reply”
“STEADY ON COURSE,
AYE SIR” and the
Coxswain/Conning Officer
should reply “VERY WELL”
INCREASE YOUR Helmsman increases rudder Helmsman should reply
RUDDER/GIVE HER MORE angle already on, to make the “INCREASING RUDDER
RUDDER boat turn more rapidly. SIR” Coxswain should
follow-up with the command
of “STEADY/STEADY AS
SHE GOES” when the boat
has reached the desired course.
Helmsman should reply”
“STEADY ON COURSE,
AYE SIR” and the
Coxswain/Conning Officer
should reply “VERY WELL”

34
RIGHT FULL RUDDER Helmsman moves tiller to the Helmsman should reply
right the maximum degrees “RIGHT FULL RUDDER,
allowed, moving the boat AYE SIR” Coxswain should
quickly to the Port follow-up with the command
of “STEADY/STEADY AS
SHE GOES” when the boat
has reached the desired course.
Helmsman should reply”
“STEADY ON COURSE,
AYE SIR” and the
Coxswain/Conning Officer
should reply “VERY WELL”
LEFT FULL RUDDER Helmsman moves tiller to the Helmsman should reply
left the maximum degrees “LEFT FULL RUDDER,
allowed, moving the boat AYE SIR” Coxswain should
quickly to the starboard. follow-up with the command
of “STEADY/STEADY AS
SHE GOES” when the boat
has reached the desired course.
Helmsman should reply”
“STEADY ON COURSE,
AYE SIR” and the
Coxswain/Conning Officer
should reply “VERY WELL”
HARD RIGHT RUDDER Helmsman moves tiller to the Helmsman should reply
right the maximum degrees “HARD RIGHT RUDDER,
allowed and as quickly as AYE SIR” Coxswain should
possible, moving the boat follow-up with the command
quickly to the Port. of “STEADY/STEADY AS
SHE GOES” when the boat
has reached the desired course.
Helmsman should reply”
“STEADY ON COURSE,
AYE SIR” and the
Coxswain/Conning Officer
should reply “VERY WELL”
HARD LEFT RUDDER Helmsman moves tiller to the Helmsman should reply
left the maximum degrees “HARD LEFT RUDDER,
allowed and as quickly as AYE SIR” Coxswain should
possible, moving the boat follow-up with the command
quickly to the starboard. of “STEADY/STEADY AS
SHE GOES” when the boat
has reached the desired course.
Helmsman should reply”
“STEADY ON COURSE,
AYE SIR” and the
Coxswain/Conning Officer
should reply “VERY WELL”
STEADY/STEADY AS SHE Means to steady the ship on Helmsman reply’s “STEADY
GOES the course it is heading at the ON COURSE, AYE SIR”

35
 time the order is given.
RUDDER AMIDSHIPS Helmsman brings rudder to Helmsman reply’s
0/360 degrees. “MIDSHIPS, AYE SIR”
SHIFT YOUR RUDDER Helmsman moves rudder to Helmsman reply’s
the same angle in the opposite “SHIFTING RUDDER,
direction from where it is AYE SIR.”
currently
COMMAND The Helmsman’s response to
the coxswain/conning officer
if he/she did not hear a
command, misunderstood, or
believes the command is
improper.
STEADY ON… The helmsman steers on a
range or object identified by
the conning officer/coxswain.
MIND YOUR HELM! Is a warning that the ship is Helmsman reply’s “AYE
swinging off course because SIR”
of bad steering

Diagram: Tiller Positions

MIDSHIPS

LEFT RIGHT
HANDSOMELY HANDSOMELY RIGHT STANDARD
LEFT STANDARD RUDDER
RUDDER

LEFT FULL RUDDER RIGHT FULL

RUDDER
Tiller

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3. As Whalers have a single outboard engine, the command “ALL” is not used. The word
engine is customarily only used for the first command. Engine Commands for a Whaler under
Power are as follows:

Commands Actions Comments

(ENGINE) AHEAD 1/3 Helmsman moves throttle Slow and steady propulsion
stick forward 1/3
(ENGINE) AHEAD 2/3 Helmsman moves throttle A faster propulsion rate, but
Stick forward 2/3 still steady
(ENGINE) AHEAD FULL Helmsman moves throttle Fastest propulsion rate
stick as far forward as possible

ALL STOP Helmsman moves throttle to Engine idles

neutral position
(ENGINE) BACK 1/3 Helmsman moves throttle Slow and steady propulsion
stick backwards 1/3
(ENGINE) BACK 2/3 Helmsman moves throttle A faster propulsion rate, but
stick backwards 2/3 still steady
(ENGINE) BACK FULL Helmsman moves throttle Fastest propulsion rate
stick as far back as possible.
TOUCH FORWARD/BACK Helmsman moves throttle Moderate increase or decrease
approximately an inch in propulsion
forward/backwards.

37
Annex D: General Terms

Amidships: The middle of a boat.

Bearing-Out Spar: Is a round pole of wood or metal with a shoulder at its outboard end, which is
plugged into a cringle in the leech or clew of a sail to push out the mainsail.

Beckets: A rope handle; An eye or loop in the end of a rope.

Belaying Pins: Bars of iron or hard wood to which running rigging may be secured, or belayed.

Block: One or more pulleys designed to carry a line and change the direction of its travel. A
housing around the pulley allows the block to be connected to a spar or to another line. Lines
used with a block are known as tackle.

Bolt Rope: The rope sewn round the edges of sails. It is made of the best hemp/ a rope sewn into
the luff of a sail for use in attaching to the standing rigging.

Boom: The horizontal spar which the foot of a sail is attached to/a pole running at a right angle
from the mast.

Boom Guy: A guy is a supporting or steadying line or wire; a line used to control the end of a
spar. The boom guy is the line used to steady/support a boom.

Bowsed: To pull or haul down on a tack.

Brails: Ropes by which the foot or lower corners of fore-and-aft sails are hauled up.

Bullseye: A small piece of stout wood with a hole in the centre for a stay or rope to reeve
through, without any sheave, and with a groove round it for the strap which is usually of iron.

Cleat: A wood or metal fitting with two horn around which ropes are made fast.

Clew: The lower after corner of a sail.

Clip Hooks (Sister Clips): A pair of flat overlapping hooks on a single ring, facing opposite
directions, which when closed together form one eye.

Codline: An eighteen thread line.

Cross Bench:

Cross Piece: A piece of timber connecting two bitts.

Crutches: A removable brace fitted in place to support an Oar. It is secured to the boat by a
lanyard.

Deadeye: Blocks in the shroud rigging used to adjust tension.

Double Reef:

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Drop Keel: (See ‘Keel’)

Eyebolts: A long iron bar having an eye at one end driven through a vessel's deck or side into a
timber or beam with the eye remaining out to hook a tackle to. If there is a ring through eye, it is
called a ring-bolt.

Eyeplates:

Fairlead: A device for leading a sheet or some other line at the correct angle - often on to a
winch. Typically, a fairlead takes the form of a sheave in some sort of metal holder.

Fast: (See Terms Used in Sailing Section – ‘Make it Fast’)

Foot: The bottom edge of a sail.

Foresail: Is the sail (such as a jib) located immediately in front of the main mast. It is attached to
the forestay.

Foresheet: A rope used in trimming a foresail.

Forestay: Long lines or cables, reaching from the front of the vessel to the mast heads, used to
support the mast.

Gunwales: The gunwale (pronounced "gunnel" to rhyme with "tunnel") is a nautical term
describing the top edge of the side of a boat.

Halyards: A rope or wire used for hoisting a sail.

Heef: The top of a mast.

.
Heel: 1) Tipping caused by the wind. 2) The bottom of a mast

Hog: A fore-and-aft structural member of the hull fitted over the keel to provide a fixing for the
garboard planks.

Keel: A fin under a sailboat's hull providing weight for stability and lateral resistance to leeway.
It consists largely of ballast. Unlike centerboards, most keels are fixed in place and not retractable
(the exception is the drop/lifting keel found in whalers).

Keelson: A structure of timbers or steel beams that are bolted to the top of a keel to increase its
strength. Also spelled kelson.

Lacing: Line used to attach a sail to a spar.

Lanyards: Small line fixed on the shrouds that is threaded through the deadeyes/a line attached
to any small object for the purpose of securing the object.

Leech: After edge of a fore and aft sail.

Lizard Bullseye:

39
Luff: the front edge of a sail, and the flapping in the wind of the front of the sail (luffing).

Main Halyard: The halyard (rope of wire) that hoists the mainsail.

Mainmast: The mast of a sailing ship is a tall vertical pole which supports the sails. Larger ships
have several masts, with the size and configuration depending on the style of ship.

Mainsail: The sail set behind the main mast, the luff of which is supported by the mast.

Mainsheet: A rope used in trimming the mainsail.

Mast: A spar set upright from the deck to support rigging and sails.

Mast Step: The support for the bottom of the mast.

Mizzen: The sail on the aft mast.

Mizzenmast: A smaller aft mast.

Mizzensheet: A rope used in trimming the mizzensail.

Outer Lizard:

Peak: Outer end of the gaff -upper aft corner of a gaff sail.

Reaching: (See Terms Used in Sailing Section)

Reef Point: Reef points are short lengths of line secured to each side and through the sail about
its foot, used for reefing. A sail may have one, two, or three sets of reef points.

Rudder: Underwater plate or board used for steering the boat.

Running: (See Terms Used in Sailing Section)

Running Rigging: Is the term for the rigging of a sailing vessel that is used for raising, lowering
and controlling the sails - as opposed to the standing rigging, which supports the mast and other
spars.

Shackle: A type of fastening device, often used as part of boat/a metal ‘U-shaped’ connector that
attaches to other fittings with the use of a pin that is inserted through the arms of the ‘U’.

Sheaves: The ‘wheel’ inside a pulley block or set into a spar to lead a rope or turn its direction of
pull.

Sheet: A rope used to control the setting of a sail in relation to the direction of the wind.

Shroud(s): Standing rigging running from a mast to the sides of a ship/wire rigging which
supports the mast Athwartships (sideways)

Single Reef:

40
Single Whips: A hoist consisting of a single rope passing through an overhead pulley/block.

Spinnaker: A very large lightweight sail used when running or on a broad reach.

Spreader: Struts used to hold the shrouds away from the mast.

Spring Hanks: Clips used to fasten a sail to a stay.

Standing Block:

Standing-Lug Mainsail:

Stern Benches: Aft Thwarts, in the mainsheets.

Stern Post: Main member at stern of a ship extending from keel to deck.

Sternsheets: The stern area of an open boat.

Stormsails: (See Trysail)

Tack-Tackle: In sailing, a tack tackle is a small tackle to pull down the tacks of the principal
sails.

Taut: Firm/Tight

Thwart: Planks placed across the boat to form seats.

Throat: The inner end of a gaff where it widens and hollows in to fit the mast.

Tiller: A bar of wood or iron put into the head of the rudder by which the rudder is moved.

Topping Lift: A line running from the end of the boom to the top of the mast used to keep the
boom from falling when the sail is not set.

Traveler: A metal ring that moves freely back and forth on a rope, rod, or spar (main mast on a
service whaler), that the yard is attached to, allowing the allowing the position of the mainsail to
be adjusted.

Triangular Mizzen: Also known as the Mizzen Sail, it is the triangular shaped sail on the aft
mast (mizzen mast) of a boat or ship.

Trysail: A small triangular sail which is put up during storm conditions in place of the regular
sail. Commonly know as spencer, when carried on foremast or mainmast of a ship or barque and
a spanker when carried on the mizzen.

Yard: A spar suspended from a mast, to spread a sail.

Yoke: A piece of wood placed across the head of a boat's rudder with a rope attached to each end
by which the boat is steered.

Yoke Plate: Metal Plate atop the yoke which keeps the yoke attached to the rudder.

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Yoke Lines: Metal lines attached to the yoke, which turn the rudder.

References

42