Seamanship in the Age of Sail: An Account of Shiphandling of the Sailing Man-O-War, 1600-1860

by John Harland

Numerous successful reprints of contemporary works on rigging and seamanship indicate the breadth of interest in the lost art of handling square-rigged ships. Model makers, marine painters, and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0870219553
• ISBN13: 9780870219559
• Release Date: January 2016
• Publisher: US Naval Institute Press
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 4.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 10.0" x 12.0"

Customer Reviews

Superlative information on square-riggers

As a relatively inexperienced captain of a small square-rigged vessel, this is an invaluable work. It has helped me learn to sail better. I have been using the book for reference for around a year now, and I have ordered a second copy for one of my crew (I'm unwilling to loan my copy out, as I keep using it). For example, on one trip while sailing close-hauled, the wind speed increased, and, the boat which had been properly trimmed suddenly became unmanagably ardent. Reviewing the action afterwards, I was able to use Seamanship in the Age of Sail to determine that I should have trimmed my boat aft. The book has all manner of excellent information, from how to properly tie a roband when securing a sail to yard, to what to do with one's anchors, to how studdingsails are used, to some of the history of sailing terminology. The illustrations are superb. There are a few petty typos and formatting issues, and I could wish for a better index, but the quality of the textual information is top-notch and the illustrations and beautifully clear.

A Valuable Reference for 'Tall Ship' captains and crew!

'SEAMANSHIP IN THE AGE OF SAIL: An Account of the Shiphandling of the Sailing Man-Of-War 1600-1860, Based on Contemporary Sources'(c.1984) by John Harland, is probably one of the most informative and valuable collections of useful knowledge on sailship handling in the late 20th century!A major value of this work is its ability to answer the questions developed during today's contemporary square rig sailing. It fully explained why sailboats are pulled by the wind and not pushed (Bernouilli's Principle); the advantages and disadvantages of square rig sailing over fore & aft sailing (downwinds & length of luff); why large square rig ships don't need a center board (a shifting of CLR, CG, & G); or why all sails were never set on a square rig when simply cruising (courses don't draw in a well).The book is punctuated with pen & ink drawings as well as period photographs and deguerrotypes of ships in the act of a sail evolution or other shipboard activity. And in a time period where photography was not yet invented, the author used contemporary paintings of vessels to demonstrate an aspect of ship handling. Going further back into history, the author delved into the archeological record to demonstrate the origin or existance of a ship component pertinent to his ship handling argument.SEAMANSHIP IN THE AGE OF SAIL further provided continuity answers as to why sails are shaped the way they are; or why the steeve of the bowsprit was lessened over time. The book gave valuable points on how to rig a ship while underway; how to rig the stun'sls; how to rig the braces, lifts, tacks, sheets, clews, and bunts; how to raise and lower heavy sails; how to bend sails to the spars; how to box haul or club haul the ship; and why the main topsail halyard is a heart attack waiting to happen.Just as the serious and ambitious mate or deckhand in the 1700s was caught with a copy of Bowditch ('Practical Navigator') in his seachest; in the 2000s you can watch a mate or an ambitious O.S. walk up the brow to his sailship with a copy of SEAMANSHIP IN THE AGE OF SAIL tucked under his arm. Despite its large size and bulk, this book is well worth taking along into the cramped crews quarters for an informed reading at night.SEAMANSHIP IN THE AGE OF SAIL is a wonderful archive of esoteric sailship handling maneuvers, equipment, gear, and nautical science. The author has done a wonderful job in his research and has provided a great resource to all sailing ship captains and mates.

Just get the book!

If you are here intentionally you should just get this book. I bought mine along with several other books at the Naval Academy's museum store in Annapolis, MD but it was a couple weeks before I seriously began to realize what a treasure this is. The other books on ship "anatomy" and modeling show you the parts and often just lead you to ask "what is that for?" and "how did they do it?". Unlike the other books this one has the answers with a skillful use of diagrams and photos. Ever wonder how to box haul a frigate or cast off the buntline lizards? The answers are here. Sheesh, I don't think O'Brain himself couldn't have done it better.

Seamanship in the age of sail

Though in the coffee-table price range, this is a marvelous resource and reference tome. It is not something to be read cover to cover in a few evenings, but if you have ever wondered how a ship-rigged vessel could be tacked through the eye of the wind (why wouldn't it go backwards with all the sails plastered against their masts?) this book will tell you in all the detail you're hungering for. Which lines did what and in what sequence. Excellent pen-and ink illustrations on virtually page to accompany the text and render mysteries more understandable. Despite a previous reviewers alarms, this volume was just reprinted this year (2000) by the Naval Institute Press...

Hard for Find, Must Have Text for Square Riggers

In the old days, the tall ships were basically rigged the same way with a few minor variations. A seaman was considered an able seaman when he "knew the ropes" (what every line was used for and where is was led). The manuevers described in the Jack Aubrey/Steven Maturin series and the Horatio Hornblower series are included here as they were actually done. Facinating reading. The ultimate challenge for a competant sailor is to master handling a "ship-rigged" vessel.Every square rigger sailing has a copy of this nicely illustrated book on board being passed around to new crew members. Or perhaps they are jealously hoarded, and reluctantly loaned out. I've been trying to find these out-of-print book for several years now. If you see one pick it up and treasure it. Well worth the price. Write me if you have a copy for sale.If you want to truly know the ropes, get this book.