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 has studied virtually every manual published about seamanship over a period of nearly four centuries. This gives the book a completely international balance and allows him to describe for the first time the proper historical development of seamanship among the major navies of the world.

A modern, objective appraisal of the development of seamanship among the major navies of the world from the 17th to the 19th century.

About the Author
John Harland was born in Belfast, but after his medical training he emigrated to Canada. He never lost his childhood interest in the sea and ships, devoting most of his spare time to their study. He is an active member of the Society for Nautical Research and contributes to its journal The Mariner's Mirror on a wide range of topics. Virtually a life's work, this book has become the standard reference on the subject, proving invaluable to captains and crew of tall ships and maritime historians alike.

Reviews
One of the most definitive accounts of the remarkable development of seamanship techniques between 1600 and 1860. * Nautilus Telegraph *



Book Information
ISBN 9781472982377
Author John Harland
Format Hardback
Page Count 320
Imprint Adlard Coles Nautical
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Weight(grams) 1848g