weather he awaits a smooth; for a vessel is liable to miss stays if struck by a sea before she has come up into the wind; then, having decided to put the vessel about, he sings out 'ready about,' when the hands will stand by ready to handle the sheet. If necessary, he should keep the vessel a point or so more off the wind for a short time, before he gives the next order, so as to get plenty of way on her. The next order will be 'helm's a-lee,' and as he gives it he puts the tiller down to leeward gently, and only about half-way over, thus allowing the vessel to shoot well ahead while in stays. When she is in the wind's eye he gives her some more helm to help her pay off on the other tack.
In the meanwhile, the hands at the sheets have been doing their duty. As the vessel comes up into the wind they slack up the jib and fore-sheets; and when the vessel has passed the head-to-wind position, they haul the sheets in on the other side, which now becomes the lee-side; but they must not do this too soon, else the head sails will act as back sails, prevent the vessel from paying off, and cause her to miss stays. The jib-sheet, for example, should not be hauled over until the jib has blown clear of the fore-stay; but it should then be got in and belayed very smartly, before the vessel is filling on the other tack, else the strain will be so great that it will be difficult to get it in at all. If the vessel is sluggish in stays, or if there be a lumpy sea, the fore-sheet should not be let go with the jib-
