TO RUN BEFORE THE WIND
When a vessel is running before the wind all sheets are eased off, the main-sheet more so than the others, so that the mainsail is almost squared to the wind. The runners, preventer backstays, and boom topping-lifts are belayed on the weather-side and slacked off on the lee-side.
When running, do not steer a vessel so that she is 'by the lee,' unless it be necessary to do so in order to avoid collision with another vessel, or for some other such good reason. A vessel is by the lee when she bears away so much that the wind comes from the quarter over which the boom is squared. She is then very near the point which would bring the wind to the back of the sails and cause a jibe. A jibe thus brought about is always more or less dangerous, and may even capsize a vessel. Serious damage is likely to attend an accidental jibe if it is blowing hard; the boom swinging over with great violence from one quarter to the other will carry all before it on its way—runners, preventer backstays, and topmast; and it will probably be sprung by the sudden jerk with which it is brought up by the main-sheet. The head-sails always give timely warning that one is sailing by the lee; for the wind gets behind them and bellies them out from the other side before the mainsail is in any danger of jibing.
