Customer Reviews

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

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'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.

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.

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...

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.

If you came here deliberately looking for this type of book, look no further. This is THE one you want. Now I know how to fish an anchor! I just wish the publisher had put the book into a size that more easily fits a backpack or a tote instead of making it coffee-table size.

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.

I've sailed on the square-rigger "Susan Constant" out of Jamestown, Va, and this book was a constant companion to our crew before, during, and after our voyage. With clear explanations and exacting illustrations, Harland gives the reader every detail needed to understand the history and working of these great ships, short of actually shipping out on one. If you ever have the chance to sail a square rigger, like as not you'll find a copy of this valuable reference already tucked away somewere on board. If you simply enjoy Patrick O'Brian's wonderful novels of the sea, you will find Seamanship in the Age of Sail to be equally compelling! Hard to find, but still out there. If you see it, buy it, and forget the price, this is a keeper.

After reading several O'Brian novels and purchasing the must-have 'A Sea of Words' I still found my grasp of the sailing terminology and expressions from the period woefully inadequate. This book has solved that and more. It covers every aspect of sailing the square rigged ship in an easy to understand contemporary style with outstanding illustrations to clarify things. The development and changes to sailing ships and their rigging over time was especially interesting to me. He also addresses changes in terminology over time as well, including the origin of terms and often provides similar expressions French, German, or Dutch. I elected to just skim the chapters on Reefing, Studdingsails, Working Ship In A Tideway, and Lowering And Hoisting Boats that had way more information than I needed, while re-reading the first eight chapters on more basic sailing aspects. The price of this book made me hesitate, but it turned out to be a great value.

This book has to be read very thoroughly. It describes every detail conected to sailing and rigging of a warship in the period from 1620 to 1850. Construction of the hull itself is not so deeply covered, everything is focused on sailing, manouvers and rigging. Great source of information, a lot of simple sketches explaining described objects. Recommended for people deeply interested in subject. Others will be quickle overhelmed with a lot of technical details and dozens of new words

A marvelous work. Clearly explains all the maneuvers described in those Hornblower, Bolitho, and O'Brian novels. An excellent resource for the ship modeller-- you'll understand how the ship was sailed, and what all the lines were used for. I've sailed on square riggers-- this book is an excellent text! You'll have no regrets about adding this one to your library.