Her
bowsprit cocked up like an old-fashioned frigate's; her jib-boom had been fished and spliced and nailed and clamped beyond further repair; and as she hove herself forward, and sat down on her broad tail, she looked for all the world like a blowzy, frousy, bad old woman sneering at a decent girl.
Ogden, the supercargo, who was at the
bowsprit, called to the men nearest to the bodies, to fasten them to the wreck; as a last horrible resource in case of being driven to extremity by famine!
The Canadian went to take his place again under the
bowsprit.
This fiery mass grew larger to their eyes, and fell, with the noise of thunder, upon the
bowsprit, which it smashed close to the stem, and buried itself in the waves with a deafening roar!
Martingale, bob-stays and all parted, as well as all starboard stays to the
bowsprit, so that the
bowsprit swung out to port at right angles and uplifted to the drag of the remaining topmast stays.
I saw Big Alec dive overboard and his mate leap for our bowsprit. Then came the crash as we struck the boat, and a series of grinding bumps as it passed under our bottom.
The owner was dancing excitedly about and demanding an explanation, but by that time Big Alec's partner had crawled aft from the bowsprit and was peering apprehensively over the rail into the cockpit.
They turned the
bowsprit towards Sardinia, where they intended to take in a cargo, which was to replace what had been discharged.
Many of them went forward, perching upon the headrails or running out upon the
bowsprit, while others seated themselves upon the taffrail, or reclined at full length upon the boats.
Back on the water, there's plenty happening with those leaders of innovation, the Mini Transat 6.5, that pioneered canting keels, rotating masts and
bowsprits, plus much more, and who have just completed the Mini Fastnet.
Many of these wrecks have decks, masts, and
bowsprits still standing and barrels full of cargo between the decks.
Among these were rice, molasses, and naval stores--pitch, rosin, tar, hemp, masts, yards, and
bowsprits. At this time there was little organized political opposition to the rule of Crown and Parliament.
The sail plan incorporates
bowsprits on all boats which increases the fore triangle space, allowing a Code 0.
IRC rates measured data such as a boat's weight, length, draft, rig and sail area, as well as special features like water ballast, canting keels and
bowsprits, to allow a wide range of keelboats to compete on a level playing field.
