Before The Wind

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B><U>UNITED STATES FRIGATE CONSTITUTION SAILING BEFORE THE WIND</U></B></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#336666" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hilda M. Willing and E.C. Collier at Kna"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id86.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sigsbee Ida Mae"><U><B><IMG SRC="008151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id137.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Oil Paintings Printed on Canvas 15 x 30 "><U><B><IMG SRC="00d0d1d0.gif" border=0 width="13" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> <A HREF="id137.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Oil Paintings Printed on Canvas 15 x 30 "><U><B>Return to Water Color & Oil page</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#DDDDDD" TEXT="#080000"> <div>   <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>This scene shows the United States Frigate Constitution cruising along the Atlantic coast in 1812.  She is shown here sailing with the wind dead astern.  The sails are set to take full advantage of the wind in the manner described for sailing “Before the Wind” in Darcy Lever’s seamanship manuals of 1810 and 1819, "</B><B>The Young Sea Officers Sea Anchor"</B><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The main top sail and top gallant sail are providing the principal power with the fore sail providing the necessary balance of power forward.  The main top and top gallant studding sails; and the fore sail studding sails are also set to maximize the wind force and, again, maintain a proper balance of forward power between the fore and main sails.  The driver and stay sails are taken in because they would not set well with the wind abaft and would adversely affect steering.  The mizzen topsail and top gallant sails are taken in because they would take wind from the main top and top gallant sails, and, as the mizzen mast is so far aft, would also adversely affect steerage.  The fore top sail and fore top gallant sails are taken in because they would be becalmed by the main sails.  The main sail is hauled up to allow wind to the fore sail.  </B></div> </td> </tr></table></body>