SAIL HO!

8:53 AM  April 3, 1813/2013

Disregard for a moment the frolicking of the St. Pete Sailing Team out there running through their exercises.  You are in the crow's nest of a sailing ship in 1812 and see nothing along the horizon.  You are at war with the largest Naval fleet ever assembled.  All is well:  scanning the horizon you see no other sails.

9:03 AM

Not more than 10 minutes have gone by and as you scan once more, you suddenly see the sails of a ship heading right to your bow.  Imagine, now, the frenzied angst that would have been for you and your shipmates as you yell down to the quarterdeck, "Sail Ho'!

As quickly as possible you must determine nationality and thus friend or foe, fighting ship or merchant. If enemy fighting ship a strategy must be devised for battle.  If enemy merchant you must attack and seize.  Will you live through the day?  Will you share in prize money?  Will it be friendly with news of home?

Closer she gets. Sea warfare, particularly in the age of sail was horrific waiting to get into position followed by quick horrific fighting, followed once again, by long minutes of waiting to get back in position to renew the attack.  Powder monkeys start bringing up gunpowder from below decks to place around cannon companies.  The ship's surgeon and their loblollies prepare for the injured.  This was usually done by taking out furniture in the Captain's quarters and placing a table for tending to the wounded.

Most deaths in sea battles was from splintering,  grapeshot and snipers.  That is if you exclude infections, amputations gone bad and plain old bleeding out.

She gets closer.

In this particular case, it is a friendly sail. Clear battle stations.  She is the American Privateer Lynx, a Baltimore Clipper schooner returning to St. Petersburg from wintering in Fort Myers.  She is approaching the city and will fire twice in salute and friendship.  The going theory at the time was, if a ship fires in salute, it has no intention of firing on the city.  Why waste the cannon balls?

She has the wind at her back so it is an easy approach to the iconic St. Petersburg Pier and as she slides next to it, she fires.  As soon as she fires her salute she turns hard to starboard and lowers her sails.  She'll sit like this for a spell and let the locals see her, then head to harbor for a 2 week stay in the city.

If you rerun this video you can get an idea of when the ship will fire by looking at the Master manning the wheel in the back.  He cups his ears just before the volleys.

Tim:

Ships don't actually sail into the wind.  Ships sail "into" the wind by tacking.  It ends up being a zig-zag course at a 30 degree angle to catch some wind that will propel them forward, back and forth to the port and starboard side.  Sails also act like the wings of a plane:  there is more pressure on one side that allows for lift and propulsion.  It all comes down to sail position, hull position and direction of wind.  "Question for Professor Blythe!"  "Yes, in the back row?" "Where did you learn this, I mean you grew up and lived in Illinois?"  "University of Wikipedia, of course."

Oh, and before I leave today, I'll make a little wager with you.  Bet I can get a picture of me at the wheel of that ship.  Any takers?