Seamanship in the Age of Sail: An Account of the Shiphandling of the Sailing Man-of-war, 1600-1860, Based on Contemporary Sources

Describes the proper historical development of seamanship among the major navies of the world. In order to explain even the most complex evolution clearly, over 350 line drawings were specially commissioned. Every aspect of handling a man-of-war is detailed and illustrated from original sources.

Numerous successful reprints of contemporary works on rigging and seamanship indicate the breadth of interest in the lost art of handling square-rigged ships. Modelmakers, marine painters and enthusiasts need to know not only how the ships were rigged but how much sail was set in each condition of wind and sea, how the various manoeuvres were carried out, and the intricacies of operations like reefing sails or ‘catting’ an anchor. Contemporary treatises such as Brady’s Kedge Anchor in the USA or Darcy Lever’s Sheet Anchor in Britain tell only half the story, for they were training manuals intended to be used at sea in conjunction with practical experiences and often only cover officially-condoned practices. This book, on the other hand, is a modern, objective appraisal of the evidence, concerned with the actualities as much as the theory. The author’s facility in a remarkable range of languages has allowed him to study virtually every manual published over a period of nearly four centuries. This gives the book a completely international balance and allows the author to describe for the first time the proper historical development of seamanship among the major navies of the world. Sailing ships

“A reference book of the highest order, and essential to anyone with an interest in the age of sail.”

Large, heavy book. (name on fep) #050422 model ships boats