CrossedAnchors_and_Harpoon

As I mentioned earlier, on the command of let go and haul, if the new weather fore braces are not properly tended the yards can swing so violently as to crash into the lee shrouds in any sort of wind.

The first question depends on which mast you're on and whether it's braced forward or aft and whether there's any rake to the mast. There's a lot going into that one including the force of gravity and the unbalanced load your own body is applying to the extreme end of the yard. The second is easier. On the command of let go and haul the sail will swing on it's own to a significant degree. It does not want to remain backed.

Also that relies on the yards not being already braced so sharp that they are deforming any shrouds or backstays, at which point the force of the standing rigging desiring to return to it's own neutral state can "spring" the yards to a significant degree in defiance of the force of the wind on the sails. There's so many possible things affecting anything on a sailboat it's hard to focus on any specific aspect. Again, especially while heavily drugged.

I'm doped to the eyeballs on cold medicine at the moment so I'm honestly having a hard time picturing the maneuver in question. In a perfect world (in my head), a perfectly balanced square sail with the wind in it would remain square to the wind. When sailing though (unless on a dead run) there will always be more wind on the weather leech as the lee will be shadowed somewhat by the mast and standing rigging. So, completely letting go of braces would swing the yards sharp up. This can be seen when bracing about the (formerly backed) fore stack when completing a tack. In any sort of wind, as soon as the sail begins to fill it will want to keep spinning, crashing into the lee shrouds unless the new weather brace teams (assuming the fore is braced aft) keep control of it. Again, as far as my bran is working today.

It certainly would take longer to brace a main stack aback when there was wind in it.

If wind force on the sails was properly modelled along with rig strength the problem would solve itself as people are generally loathe to see their main stacks go toppling by the board. Failing at that (which I imagine would be a massive pain in the ass to model), the backing of that much sail should have a major deleterious effect on the speed at which the vessel is moving. Adding in a fatigue meter for the crew might also do it. Hauling around that much canvas when full of wind would need a ton of bodies and would wear a crew out in a hurry, making them less able to effectively fight the boat.

I was dismayed and astonished in my brief play thus weekend to see the tacking of vessels entered into by the backing of the main and mizzen and shivering the fore. Not to say that such a course of action couldn't be successful in theory, the idea of that being a preferable method when taking into account the massive forces applied to those backed sails and difficulty with which they would have to be hauled around. It is the mizzen sail, or spanker, being fore and aft rigged when hauled in tight that increases pressure aft of the CLR and causes the vessel to head up while still keeping way on her as long as possible with the sails filled until finally hauling around the main and mizzen when in the shadow of the fore stack.

She was only flying a double reefed main and reefed staysail. It's not like she had a ton of canvass in the wind.

Even crazier, because we're talking about shake draft, Chesapeake bay built schooners with complete bonkers rigs like this one.

No joke. There are stories of old fashioned Baltimore Clippers rolling over in the hook with everything furled there was so much windage aloft. The drawings of Chasseur and the other 1812 era privateers carrying squares to t'gallants on fore and main. Insane!

Look at my boat Pride of Baltimore 2 if you want a more historical hull form, though she's still smaller than the largest 1812 era vessels of the same design.

The current "privateer" lynx is much smaller than the original Baltimore privateer schooners. She's also downrigged and under maintenance in Cape Charles VA at the moment. I have several friends onboard right now. Speaking of November, my current boat did their last sail of the season yesterday here in Baltimore.

And if you're after a proper ginger beer, look up Regatta or Fentimans.

Having served in the British line at the Battle of Lake Erie reenactment last summer, I would be glad of a chance to sail with you fine fellows whenever I get a chance.

Ontario. We need something brig rigged (and don't be pedantic and tell me she's a snow, the functional differences when it comes to maneuvering are miniscule).

What about Barclay's upper great lakes squadron out of Amherstburg?

29, having earned my living on the water, above and below the waves, on modern commercial vessels and sailing reproductions of 18th and 19th century vessels since before my 21st birthday.

No cabin tops. Should be flush decked and broader across the beam. "Baltimore Clippers" evolved out of Chesapeake Bay cargo schooners which needed the deck space as the shallow inlets on the Chesapeake required a shallow draft but relatively calm conditions meant cargo could be carried on deck.

As I am almost always lacking in stable internets I am definitely looking forward to the prospect of a single player experience. In truth I pre-ordered without any expectation of getting to play for quite some time. I just loved the idea that somebody out there was making a sailing game where the business of sailing actually mattered. That's a tremendous selling point for me as it is, though obviously I'd be very glad to get some enjoyment out of my investment as well.