I'm writing a historical novel, and need help with a situation. Years is 1717, man and woman, both experienced sailors, are on a boat (I'm thinking a large ketch, but could change my mind easily) They really need one more hand to get the mainsail raised, but have to make do, as they are in an emergency situation.
They don't have enough rope to rig anything clever, But I'm thinking they'll put some cleats on the deck for traction, and will be able to get the mainsail about 3/4 up.
After they're at sea, I need for some kind of "oh $hit" moment to happen. A quick, scary emergency to create a little excitement. I'd also love to know some things they could be arguing about.
Would some kind soul please vet my information and plan, and give me some idea? Thank you in advance.
2014-01-01T05:35:38Z
Oh! forgot to say they'll be tacking into a headwind.
Greywolf2014-01-01T08:24:54Z
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Your story must explain how the woman comes to be an experienced sailor. In that day and age, not going to happen easily.
Not enough rope? Every sea-going vessel carries spare rope. You have to be able to replace ropes that break (which they did frequently in that day and age). And you carry billies (block and tackle sets ready made up, for extra power in pulling).
If you can get the mainsail part way up, you can get it all the way (but not necessarily properly taut, unless you have time to rig a billy and use the extra power that gives).).
Put cleats on the deck? Puh-lease. If the cleats are not already there, a scratch crew like you describe are not going to be able to do shipwright's work, while at sea, with their hands full of sailing the vessel. In any case, ships of that era used few cleats, and never for halyards, which always went to a rack of belaying pins around the mast.
On a ketch, you don't need the mainsail to make progress. You can also use the foresail and the mizzen - progress will be slower, but possible.
The oh $hit moment could be a squall, a brief blast of intense wind, which can be produced suddenly by an otherwise quite innocent looking thundercloud, that may seem to be beyond endangering you (I've experienced this). You see a line of white spray being ripped off the tops of waves as it races towards you. You have time to ease the sheets if you act instantly. If you don't act in time, your ship could get knocked flat or the masts ripped out.
Arguing? About the destination ("I won't abandon my family", "I want to stay and fight",) the timing ("If we get caught, we will both be hung"), about what they are going to do at the destination, about competence ("I've wrung more water out of my socks than you've sailed over"), or even about the fact that they can't stand each other or that each suspects the other of treachery (betrayal of love, betrayal of country, "why are you suddenly so keen to run?")).
A woman might have become an accomplished sailor, masquerading as a man. It did happen, very very occasionally. I read about one soldier, and accomplished duellist, who was found to be female on her death.
Apart from squalls, there were many uncharted rocks and islands - they could suddenly realize that what they thought were whitecaps were waves breaking over a reef.
hermetic? as in waterproof? they would fill the cracks with tar, pitch and fiber like rope and then they allowed the hull to soak so the wood would take in water and expand, thus squishing the filler and sealing the hull, they needed to redo this many times in a ship's lifetime. it was reasonably difficult, you could easily disable one by hitting the rudder, the masts or other essential parts, but they were difficult to sink in those days.
Sounds like you don't have single clue about ships and people of the 17th century ! Or any thing about ships and boats of the 20th to 21th century ether for that matter! May I suggest you give up writing and take up and easier hobby!