Solo Sailing 102: Sail and Trim

[Fallon]

72nd Spring 515 AV
Late Morning

"Good to have you back with us Fallon Lass," she felt the clapping hand of Brons upon her shoulder, the grin upon his face as he leaned down closer to her height. He was still the captain of the Waverider it seemed - judging by the way he was hovering around the vessel in the docks -, and mostly unchanged since her last visit upon it. There was a thicker layer of stubble this time, the eyes a little brighter and not those that were nursing a hangover. She gave him a small smile, teeth breaking out to reveal a slither of white before she gave him only a nod. The Inspector spoke, "Couldn't keep me away if you tried."
"So, you're back for more learning then lass?"
"Something like that. You know what I want, learn the ropes, get the sails, experience," she waved the thought away with one hand and pressed a few gold into his with the other, "Something you can't get up at the University."
"Aye, all books and theories up there. Proper learning will do you good at keeping the head on tight," He gave a flicker of a look down to the gold, quickly counting it with his eyes before once more nodding, "Want to join us for a few of trips out then? And come on aboard lass, we'll be setting up for sail soon, got different targets for today and next few."

"Not going for the usual fishing haul then?" Fallon asked as she took a large step onto the fishing vessel.
Captain Brons followed shortly after, "Nah, not this time. Bay is full of cargo, one of the trade vessels went over and we need to clear it out. Didn't you hear about it?"
"Gods," Fallon's face went blank then, the jaw slacking slightly. Her gaze moved out past towards the bow of the boat then, eyes blinking at the overturned vessel that seemed to swamp the waters. It was no small matter, at least a two or three mast ship. Her expression twisted and pulled a face, "That looks a mess."
"It is, hence why we're going out there. Come on. Crew!" His voice turned to the various others that were loitering about the deck, "We ready to set on out?"
"Aye captain!" came the response.
The man gave a nod, arms folding as he moved upwards to the ship wheel, "Then to positions. Anchor up, chart up and ease all!"

There was a scrabbling of bodies, the dipping and ducking about the place as the captain firmly grabbed her by the arm, it was there that he pushed the main sheet into her hand. She took a grasp on it and looked at the captain with a blink as he spoke, "Hold it close in. Brace your feet down. Mainsail raised?"
"Mainsail raised!" came a shout from one of sailors, "Oars at the ready!"
"Oars out from docking!" she could hear the shout once more, the beating stroke of oars in unison as they plunged into the waters and pushed off.
oocPaid 10gm to captain

[Fallon]

She felt the rope tug in her hands, the boom and sail juddering as she held it there within her grip and watched it wildly flap. But it was the captain's eyes that moved upwards to the top of the mast, a thin strip of colour flapping there. With one hand on the ship wheel he gave a point up to it, "That's a tell-tale lass. Tell's the way the wind is coming."
"Bit like a Weather vane?"
"Yeah, but lighter, and not in the shape of a rooster," his gaze moved as it rippled and curled, "You head a boat into wind then the boat won't move and that will flap wildly. Might even move backwards. Sail needs to be let out depending on the position of the wind."
"Aren't we heading into wind at the moment?"

Another pause, "Nearly, we'll be close hauled as we sail out. You got to keep the sail close to centre you hear me?"
"Yes Captain," she answered. Land drifted further away, the few feet turning into tens as the vessel was guided out of port. It was there that the captain gave her the nudge to begin. Slowly and carefully the ship began to turn to the left, the sail that was once flapping being gently eased out and catching the wind. It ballooned, curving and tugging in her hands with a firm jerk, the vessel lurching forward. The hull cut the waters, the pitched whistle slicing the air as they escaped the confines of the docks. She felt the gentle rock of the vessel as it continued to turn, the crew taking up position once more as they continued to travel on, close to the wind and keeping the sailed hauled in.

It was as the captain continued to speed out that he continued to speak, "Keep it close in now, I'm gonna tack around to Starboard at the buoy. When I do, you need to let the main sheet slip and settle. Going to go for a beam reach."
"A what?"
"Beam reach. Puts the sails at a ninety to the wind. Steady now lads!" She heard the voice shout. Ahead she could see the bobbing body of the buoy and the cawing of gulls were perched upon it. With a deep inhale the captain let out a call, "Boom! Starboard coming!"

The entire crew ducked, her hands releasing the main sheet as the boom came whipping round over head from right to left. The sail flung itself out, the boat beginning to turn as the wind filled the sail once more. The captain braced, pulling the ship back on track while Fallon frantically pulled at the main sheet - seeking to obey the commands of Brons, "Beam reach it lass! Bring it in before it loses control!" Muscles strained and pulled, the sail curving more as the boom was brought in. She heard the shout of, "Steady now!" as the ship took up a steady speed. It was upon the opposite side to it that the crew had gathered, leaning out slightly as the vessel continued to pick up. For a moment it hovered there at an angle before gradually easing back down to a level plane. With it steady in her grasp, and the gentle sway of movement beneath her feet the captain continued on in their directed way.

[Fallon]

"Beam reach, it's when we get the vessel to sail perpen... perpen..."
"Perpendicular?" Fallon offered.
"Aye! That. Smart lass. Perpendicular to the wind, makes the sail curve real nice and gives us good speed. Wouldn't surprise me if it's one of the fastest points of sail."
"Points of what?"
She watched him pause for a moment and consider his words, "Point of sail is... the angle the boat is to the wind. Like say into wind is North, then we need to move the boat about so it's not pointing North and into the wind. What we just did there on the close haul was keeping the boat at North-East or North-West to the wind, kept the sail in nice and tight."
"So what about now?"
"Now we're on a beam reach. Boat sits at East or West to the wind. Got to keep her steady now though with the rudder."
Fallon blinked, "Rudder?"
"Aye, what steers the vessel. I'll tell you about it another time lass. Just focus on keeping the sail tight."

Fallon continued her grip upon the sail, her eyes narrowing as she felt the vessel pick up the pace. The salted breeze clung to her, the ears stinging as the vessel continued to carve her way forward. It was with a firm nudge however that the captain gave a point of the hand to the bow of the boat. It was there, flapping wildly, that the jib sheet had come loose. Her eyes peered upon it, the instructive point from the captain spurring her into action, "Lass, give me the mainsheet and go deal with the jib. It's come loose."
"Aye captain," she answered, passing it over and gingerly making her way across.

Slow steps, the feeling of the swaying boat beneath her feet keeping her on guard. She staggered, toes jabbing to find her sea legs as she worked her way across the deck. Arms out, hands splayed as she ducked her way beneath the juddering boom, hands gripping onto the mast and wheeling her into the safety of it. The flailing rope battered at against the arms, the jib sheet wildly flapping and crackling in the wind. Even on a seemingly calm day like this did the elements work against her. Her gaze turned to the two flapping jib sheets that clung to the corner of the jib, her hand reaching forward to grasp upon the ropes. Taking a crouch down she tugged them in closer, looping the right one around to the other side of the mast. With the left she quickly tucked it into the brass loop that hung from the ship rail. Tucking the end through she loosely tied if off before taking up the right. Dipping she moved over to the right and repeated the process - letting the rope hang loosely and fight to catch the wind. It was behind her that Brons began to shout out his orders, "Look at the wind lass! Line it up right and proper!"

[Fallon]

She turned her head feeling the blast of the breeze smack her in the face. Tugging upon the left most rope she began to pull the jib across, feeling the wind tugging at it as she did. Feeling the rope running through the loop, she watched the front of the vessel as it dipped and rose along the waves, the sail flapping and ballooning out as she felt it catch. She imagined the compass in her mind, the angle of west that she had to shape it to. With another tug she felt the shape keep and promptly tied it safely off. Now catching the wind the ship continued to plough on forward, gently being guided in the desired direction by the captain at the wheel. Resting back on her haunches, she felt the dull ache set into her arms as the captain released the ordering shout back across the deck, "No time to rest Lass. Take the mainsheet over!"

Fallon scrabbled across, bent double to avoid the boom as it rocked with the vessel. Her hands snatched upon the mainsheet as she came in closer, feet bracing as she took up the solid stance and the sail that pulled against the wind. The sharp tugging blast of air, hair tangled and was pushed back by her forearm, the captain holding the wheel firm as he held the vessel on its course. His lungs were filled as he barked out the orders, "Sharp tack! Brace for the boom now lads! Main sheet loose!"

The vessel turned, the bow turning around into the wind. For a moment there was a mere blip of time, her hands letting the main sheet run through them as the world seemed to hold its breath. Faced into the wind the boat stretched, turned and then sharply swung around to face North-east. The ship rattled as it jerked, a swooping sail cracking over head as he brought the ship into a close haul. Steady now, Fallon found her grip upon the sail as she pulled it back and in, watching the crew quickly dip across as necessary to balance the vessel out, hull rocking as it settled back down. She turned her gaze ahead, looking towards the vessel that was clear now in its shape. Around it the smaller vessels swarmed, gliding and rowing around it in a steady state. The larger had taken to throwing long ropes over the capsized, the bodies of a few scrambling up them to reach the side. It was a mass operation she noted as they moved ever closer, whatever able hands working at correcting what went wrong - she was not surprised, this was Zeltiva's way.

[Fallon]

"Hold the main sheet steady now Fallon!"
"Aye!" she responded. Her hands wrapped around the rope as it pulled, the men skirting around the deck with their nets, ropes and hooked poles. Eyes seemed to fall to the water around them, her body rocking with the motion as one of the other ships came around. A smaller fishing vessel came towards them, sail fully out but being reeled in as it closed in. From across it the sailors of the other vessel - labelled as the 'Crasher' - peered over the railings at them. It was there she could hear the shout from across the way of 'Heave to!' before one of the crew made his announcement towards the Waverider, "Captain Brons! Sailor's guild want us smaller vessels playing mop up for cargo. Just don't overload yourself with it."
"Where do they want us to unload?"
"Long the main piers! Got people there ready."

Fallon watched Brons give out a small wave of thanks before the vessels finally glided past each other. The captain and crew became animated not long after this, his hand pointing forwards toward the bobbing crates and wreckage. He merely tugged the wheel to the right, letting it continue its glide along as they closed on in. It was only as they came in closer did the captain release his orders, "Heave her to just there lads. Prepare the nets up!"
"Heave to?"
"Aye. Bring the mainsail and jibsheet in tight for a new tack. Go on. Do it... now! Don't let go!" She became animated, pulling sharply as she hauled at the sail and bringing it in tight. Her eyes moved to the captain as he sharply turned the wheel and taking the vessel across the wind, all sails held in tight as he brought it round. It was there, with the shaking of the sails and trembling of the boom that the wind was caught and pushed into the sails. He pulled at it again, gently easing into the wind as the boat steadied out. Holding it there, she watched him lash the wheel in place, the boat caught in its position, "Fallon, lash the sail off. Quickly now."

She did so, tugging at the loose end and finding the hole it looped through upon the deck. Focusing on keeping it in tight, she pulled the hanging loose end back around upon the tensile rope, looping it round and haphazardly knotting it up until it seemed to stop giving. With an exhale she looked back to the captain and gave a nod, "Done."
"Good. Now get up, we've got cargo to try and pick out."