The Writer’s Guide to Entering & Exiting a Harbor
Posted on December 22, 2023 Leave a Comment
Sailing ships entering and exiting harbors relied on a combination of wind power, currents, and manual labor. The techniques and procedures varied depending on the size of the ship, prevailing wind and tide conditions, and the design of the harbor. Here is a general overview of how sailing ships entered and exited harbors.
As always, magic is the exception to the rule. Because magic.
Entering Harbor
The crew of the ship would use maps, instruments (like sextants), and landmarks to find their way to the harbor.
As the ship approached the harbor entrance, the crew would reduce sail by furling or lowering some sails. This reduced the ship’s speed and made it more maneuverable.
The anchor would be ready to drop in case of emergencies or if the ship needed to come to a stop quickly.
Many times, local pilots familiar with the harbor would come on board to guide the ship safely through the narrow and often treacherous entrance. Pilots had specialized knowledge of the harbor’s currents, tides, and hazards.
Depending on the wind direction and the layout of the harbor, the crew would use various techniques to maneuver the ship. These might include tacking (changing the direction of the ship by turning it into and across the wind) or wearing ship (changing direction by turning away from the wind). In the time before motorized vessels, sailors would use row boats to pull ships into harbor. Later, they would fill this role with tugboats. Another method they used was to let out the anchor, load it onto a rowboat, and drop it further out in the direction they wished to go. They would then weigh anchor, pulling the ship towards it. Sailors commonly took advantage of the incoming tides to push their ships into the harbor.
The ship’s crew and harbor authorities would communicate using signal flags, semaphore, or other means to coordinate the ship’s entry.
Once safely inside the harbor, the ship would drop anchor and secure it to the seabed to prevent drifting. They often did this with manual capstans or windlasses. They would also secure the ship to the dock using ropes that were tied to cleats on the dock and sturdy points on the ship. Typically, sailors used three lines: a bowline, a stern line, and a spring line. These lines were tight enough to prevent the boat from drifting too far, but slack enough to allow it to move with the tide and wind.
Exiting Harbor
To leave the harbor, the ship’s crew would “weigh anchor,” which meant raising the anchor from the seabed. This required the use of capstans or windlasses powered by the crew’s muscle.
Once they had secured the anchor, the crew would set the sails. The configuration of sails depended on the wind direction and the ship’s desired course.
The ship’s crew would plan their route out of the harbor, considering the wind and tide conditions. They would aim to avoid obstacles and other vessels.
Like entering the harbor, the crew would use various sailing maneuvers to navigate through the harbor entrance. The crew had to balance the speed and direction of the ship with care to avoid collisions and ensure a safe exit. Sailors used the same methods applied to bring a ship into harbor in reverse to exit the harbor.
Sometimes, a harbor pilot might continue to guide the ship out of the harbor to ensure a safe departure.
Once the ship had safely navigated the harbor entrance, it would set its course for its intended destination, adjust its sails as necessary, and resume its journey under wind power.
These procedures required skilled seamanship, teamwork, and a deep understanding of the local conditions. Bad weather, strong currents, or crowded harbors can make entering and exiting difficult.
I hope this was helpful. Let me know if you have questions or suggestions by using the Contact Me form on my website or by writing a comment. I post every Friday and would be grateful if you would share my content.
If you want my blog delivered straight to your inbox every month along with exclusive content and giveaways, please sign up for my email list here.
Let’s get writing!
Copyright © 2023 Rebecca Shedd. All rights reserved.
Writer’s Deep Dive: Sextant
Posted on December 8, 2023 Leave a Comment
The sextant is one of the most easily recognizable and yet least understood navigational instruments. Today I will explain how to take a reading with the sextant and the function of all its pieces.
Now, let’s dive in!
The Basics
The basic principles of the sextant were found in the unpublished writings of Isaac Newton but were first implemented around 1731 by John Hadley and Thomas Godfrey.
The sextant measures the angular distance between two visible objects. Often one of those objects is the horizon, and the other is the sun or the north star. However, the sextant can also measure the distance between two objects, such as the moon and another celestial body, such as a star or planet. This can determine Greenwich mean time and thus longitude. You can calculate the latitude by noting the time of a sighting and measuring the angle. The distance of a landmark can be determined by sighting the height of it. When held horizontally, a sextant can measure angles between objects on a chart. Unlike older tools, you can use the sextant during the day or at night. Because a sextant measures relative angle, it does not need to be completely steady, meaning that you can use it on a moving ship.
The frame of a sextant is marked with angles. You move the index bar to take a reading on those angles. Traditional sextants have half horizon mirrors, so one mirror shows the horizon and the other shows the celestial body being cited. Both objects appear bright and clear, meaning that you can use the sextant at night and in haze. Most sextants have shade glasses to protect the user’s eyes from looking directly at the sun.
Sighting, shooting, or taking a sight is how people refer to taking a reading with a sextant. First, point the sextant at the horizon. Then rotate the index bar until the celestial body being cited appears in the second half of the mirror. Then, line up the bottom of the celestial object with the horizon, release the clamp, and swing the sextant side to side to verify alignment. The user can then read the angle that is shown by the arrow on the index bar.
The readings for a sextant are sometimes subject to index errors. This is due to slight misalignments with the mirrors. You can adjust calculations to ensure the accuracy of the reading. Adjustments for height above the water, light bending, and shift in position of the celestial body are usually necessary. Changes in temperature can warp the ark of the sextant, creating inaccuracies. Mariners originally made most sextants of brass because it expands less than other materials although it was heavier.
Users can determine their location on earth by using trigonometric calculations and nautical almanac data after correcting their reading.
The Write Angle
There are many ways that you can use a sextant in your stories. Below are just a few.
Navigational Tool – The sextant was an essential navigation tool in history. It was useful for people who explored uncharted territories like sailors, pilots, and explorers without GPS.
Historical Setting – If sextants were commonly used in the specific historical period in which your story is set, it can serve as a hallmark for the era and illustrate the challenges of navigation in the past.
Survival Story – If your character is in a survival situation, such as after a shipwreck, a sextant can be a lifeline for them to find their way to safety. If they struggle with using the instrument accurately, it can add a layer of tension and hope. If there is more than one survivor, they can disagree about how to use a sextant and whether each other’s readings are accurate.
Character – Showing a character that is competent at using a sextant or struggling can add depth and reveal some of their skills and back story. If your character is based on a historical figure such as a famous explorer or scientist, their use of the sextant can add depth and authenticity to your story.
Mystery – Maybe your character stumbles upon an old sextant with cryptic markings or coordinates that are the beginning of an adventure.
I hope this was helpful. Let me know if you have questions or suggestions by using the Contact Me form on my website or by writing a comment. I post every Friday and would be grateful if you would share my content.
If you want my blog delivered straight to your inbox every month along with exclusive content and giveaways, please sign up for my email list here.
May you always find the right words.
Copyright © 2023 Rebecca Shedd. All rights reserved.
The Writer’s Guide to Maritime Navigation
Posted on November 24, 2023 Leave a Comment
Over the last couple of weeks, I have covered different ships and a large span of maritime history. However, all these ships mean nothing if you do not know how to get where you are going. Today I will cover maritime navigation. I will mainly focus on navigation before satellite and radio.
As always, magic is the exception to the rule. Because magic.
Latitude and Longitude
Latitude is the distance north to south around the globe and is depicted as horizontal lines on maps of the Earth. It is usually expressed in degrees with the equator being 0 degrees. Mariners calculated latitude in the northern hemisphere by sighting the sun, moon, or north star with a sextant.
Longitude, the vertical lines on your map, dictate east-to-west distances from the prime meridian or Greenwich meridian. Longitude is also expressed in degrees ranging from 0 to 180 degrees east to west. Longitude is much harder to calculate than latitude because you must know the exact time that you are from Greenwich mean time. This requires hyper accurate timepieces which were not available until the late 18th century and not affordable until the 19th century.
Coastal Navigation
Our earliest seafaring ancestors followed the coast. With the shoreline in sight, it was harder to get lost than venturing out into open waters.
Dead Reckoning
Early mariners navigated by using landmarks, memory, observation, and information passed down by others. A variation of this type of navigation is known as dead reckoning. A ship captain would point his vessel in the direction that he wished to go and try to hold a straight line. He would estimate his location given the speed of the ship. This is not the best navigation method because any steering error can take the vessel wildly off course.
Celestial Navigation
Celestial navigation is based on the observation of the sun, moon, and stars. Sailors would use the sun to set an east or west heading. The North Star was used heavily by early mariners at night. Ancient Vikings are rumored to use a special type of crystal known as a sunstone to locate the sun even on a cloudy day and then utilize a primitive compass known as a sunboard to set their heading. If you are interested in learning more there was a fantastic episode of Expedition Unknown that covers this topic.
Astrolabe
An astrolabe is an instrument that serves as a star chart and a physical model of visible heavenly bodies. It is usually a metal disc with a pattern of wire cut outs and perforations that allow the user to accurately calculate astronomical positions. It can measure the altitude above the horizon of a celestial body and can identify stars or planets to determine latitude. Although it is less reliable in rough seas. The astrolabe was used widely during the Islamic Golden Age.
Compasses
The compass uses a magnetized needle to determine magnetic north. They also show angles in degrees with N corresponding to 0 degrees. This allows the compass to show bearings in degrees. The Han Chinese developed the first compass using lodestones. [1] The earliest representation of a compass used aboard ship was from an illustration dating to 1403.
Sextant
The sextant is an instrument that measures the altitude of an object. The sextant measures the angle and time, which can calculate the latitude. I will go into further detail in my next blog post.
I hope this was helpful. Let me know if you have questions or suggestions by using the Contact Me form on my website or by writing a comment. I post every Friday and would be grateful if you would share my content.
If you want my blog delivered straight to your inbox every month along with exclusive content and giveaways, please sign up for my email list here.
May you always find the right words.
Copyright © 2023 Rebecca Shedd. All rights reserved.
[1] Lowrie, William (2007). Fundamentals of Geophysics. London: Cambridge University Press. pp. 281. ISBN 978-0-521-67596-3. Early in the Han Dynasty, between 300–200 BC, the Chinese fashioned a rudimentary compass out of lodestone ... the compass may have been used in the search for gems and the selection of sites for houses ... their directive power led to the use of compasses for navigation
Writer’s Deep Dive: Frigates
Posted on November 10, 2023 Leave a Comment
Unlike most of the other ships I have covered, the frigate was a warship first and foremost.
Now, let’s dive in!
The frigate was a full-rigged ship, built for speed and maneuverability, making it ideal for scouting, escorting, and patrolling. They could carry six months’ worth of stores, giving them a very long range. During a sea battle, commanders would station them away from the action with a clear line of sight to the flagship, repeating its signals. [1]
Throughout their history, frigates were a desirable post in the Navy. They often saw action, which meant a greater chance for glory, promotion, and prize money. Also, governments kept them in service during peacetime because they were more economical than larger ships. Frigates are popular among authors because of their relative freedom compared to ships-of-the-line. Examples include C.S. Forester’s Horatio Hornblower series and the movie Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.
Early History
The frigate is descended from lighter galley-type warships developed in the Mediterranean in the 15th century. These ships used oars and sails and were primarily built for speed and maneuverability. [2] During the Eighty Years War, Protestant rebels from the southern Netherlands used frigates to attack the shipping of the Dutch and their allies. They chose the frigate because of its speed and maneuverability.
The Dutch Republic was the first navy to build larger ocean-going frigates. In their struggle against the Spanish, speed and a shallow draft for the waters around the Netherlands was critical. The first of these larger frigates were built around 1600 in Holland. The Dutch almost completely stopped using heavy ships and adopted lighter frigates by the end of the Eighty Years’ War. After the Battle of the Downs in 1639, frigates became the preferred choice for navies after seeing the Dutch’s success. Most of the ships built by the Commonwealth of England in the 1650s were frigates. As frigates became bigger, more decks were added. This style was known as a great frigate and could carry up to 60 guns. The long hull design led to the rise in broadside tactics and naval warfare.
The Classic Frigate
The classic or true frigate came into its own during the Napoleonic wars. During the War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748), the British Navy took some French frigates and liked them so much that they created their own. One of these was the French built Médée of 1740. The first British frigates had 28 guns, including an upper deck battery. The classic frigate was square-rigged and only had one gun deck. This design meant that even in rough seas, a true frigate could bring all her guns to bear against two deckers that often could not open their lower deck gun ports. The first British frigates had 28 guns, including an upper deck battery of 24 nine-pounder guns. Later designs had 32 or 36 guns, including an upper deck battery of 26 12-pounder guns.
The Heavy Frigate
In 1778, the British admiralty introduced a heavy frigate with a main battery of 28 18-pounder guns. The British made this move because the French and the Spanish had built up their navies. The French followed suit in 1781 with an 18-pounder frigate. By the Napoleonic Wars, the 18-pounder frigate was the standard. The British produced two versions: a 38 gun and a smaller 36 gun frigate.
The Super Heavy Frigate
In 1782, the Swedish Navy introduced the first super heavy frigates that had 24 pounder long guns. In the 1790s, the French built several super heavy frigates and modified a few older ships into heavy frigates. The British followed suit and modified three of their smaller 64 gun battleships into super heavy frigates including the HMS Indefatigable. In 1797 the new United States had three super heavy frigates including the USS Constitution. [3] After losses in the War of 1812, the Royal Navy ordered British frigates to never engage American frigates at any less than a 2 to 1 advantage. The builders constructed the Constitution and her sister ships, President and United States, using live oak which made their hulls resistant to cannon shot. [4] This is the reason the USS Constitution is known as Old Ironsides.
Modern Frigates
With the adoption of steam power in the 19th century, multiple navies experimented with paddle frigates. The first ironclads were classified as frigates because of the number of guns they carried. Starting in the mid-1840s there were screw frigates, first built of wood and later of iron that continued to perform the traditional role of the frigate into the late 19th century. The term frigate stayed in use until the 1880s, when iron hulled warships began being designated as battleships or armored cruisers. The term frigate was readopted during World War II by the British Navy to describe an anti-submarine escort vessel that was larger than a corvette but smaller than a destroyer. Modern frigates are included in multiple navies around the world, including the United States, Canada, and the UK.
I hope this was helpful. Let me know if you have questions or suggestions by using the Contact Me form on my website or by writing a comment. I post every Friday and would be grateful if you would share my content.
If you want my blog delivered straight to your inbox every month along with exclusive content and giveaways, please sign up for my email list here.
May you always find the right words.
Copyright © 2023 Rebecca Shedd. All rights reserved.
[1] Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 17. p. 469. [2] Henderson, James: Frigates Sloops & Brigs. Pen & Sword Books, London, 2005. ISBN 1-84415-301-0. [3] USS Constitution launched in 1797.HMS Victory is the oldest commissioned (put on active duty) vessel since 1778 by 21 years, but she has been in dry dock since 1922. [4] Archibald, Roger. 1997. Six ships that shook the world. American Heritage of Invention & Technology 13, (2): 24.
The Writer’s Guide to Sailing Ships of the 18th & 19th Centuries
Posted on October 27, 2023 Leave a Comment
The advancements in sailing ships that occurred during the Age of Exploration from the 15th to the 17th centuries continued into the 18th and 19th centuries. We also known this period as the Age of Sail. Ships became faster, better armed, and more complex in their construction. It was during this time that iconic ships such as the schooner and the clipper came onto the scene. The Age of Sail would end with the introduction of steamships.
As always, magic is the exception to the rule. Because magic.
Brigantine
The brigantine is a two-masted ship that developed in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. Their defining feature is a gaff sail on the second mast, which is usually taller than the first. There are records of this type of vessel going back to the 16th century. Several nations adopted this style of ship in the Atlantic in the 17th century. It was especially popular in the British colonies in North America before 1775. It was fast and maneuverable, which made it popular for piracy, espionage, and reconnaissance. Brigantines ranged in size from 30 to 150 tons.
Brig
The brig developed as a variation of the brigantine. It has two square rig masts instead of one. This improves its sailing, power, and maneuverability. The brig, which originated in the second half of the 18th century, served as small merchant vessels and warships into the latter part of the 19th century. Eventually, schooners replaced them. Although they were fast and maneuverable, they required a large crew to manage their sails, although fewer than the brigantine. [1] James Cook’s ship, HMS Grenfell, started as a schooner but was later converted into a brigantine. Another famous brig was the HMS Beagle, which was used as a survey vessel by Charles Darwin.
Schooner
Although there is evidence of the schooner from the early 17th century, they came into their own as ocean-crossing ships in the 18th century. This design has a fast hull and a good ability to windward. They were popular among privateers, blockade runners, slavers, and opium dealers. They were also used as packet boats because of their speed in carrying passengers and goods. People often used them for oceanic voyages besides their use in coastal waters. They required a smaller crew than most ships their size. [2]
Clipper
The clipper ship was designed for speed. They were not limited to any specific sail plan and could be rigged as schooners, brigs, or brigantines. At their height, clippers sailed all over the world but were primarily used to carry tea and opium between the United Kingdom and China, in the transatlantic trade, and in the New York to San Francisco route during the California Gold Rush. The height of the clipper era began in 1843 when there was a need for fast passage to the gold fields in California and Australia. They do not have a large capacity for carrying cargo but were designed to carry their cargo or passengers quickly. They were also used to quickly carry perishable goods such as fruit.[3] They are often narrow for their length and small by 19th century standards. The first clippers were built in Baltimore before the American Revolution. They were small, usually less than 200 tons.[4] The popularity of the clipper ship began to fade in late 1853 due to a slump in trade. The only intact clipper ship today is the Cutty Sark.
Windjammers
Windjammers were iron-hulled sailing ships that bridged the gap between the Age of Sail and the Age of Steam. They carried bulk cargo long distances in the 19th and early 20th centuries. They were the largest merchant ships ever built. The first windjammers were built in the 1870s and they were attractive because they kept their schedules regardless of the wind. They also did not need a large crew and could have as few as 14 men. Commercial use of iron-hulled sailing ships continued until the 1950s, although they began disappearing in the 1920s. They carried cargo from remote ports where fuel and water were unavailable and did not have to take up space with coal or fresh water. The tallest sailing ship ever built was the five-masted Prussian, which was a windjammer.
I hope this was helpful. Let me know if you have questions or suggestions by using the Contact Me form on my website or by writing a comment. I post every Friday and would be grateful if you would share my content.
If you want my blog delivered straight to your inbox every month along with exclusive content and giveaways, please sign up for my email list here.
May you always find the right words.
Copyright © 2023 Rebecca Shedd. All rights reserved.
[1] R.M. Ballantyne. "Man on the Ocean". Archived from the original on 2006-10-11. Retrieved 2007-01-12. [2] "Schooner" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911. [3] MacGregor, David R (1988). Fast Sailing Ships, their design and construction, 1775–1875 (2nd ed.). London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-87021895-6. [4] Clark, Arthur Hamilton (1912). The Clipper Ship Era: An Epitome of Famous American and British Clipper Ships, Their Owners, Builders, Commanders, and Crews, 1843–1869. G.P. Putnam's Sons. The Clipper Ship Era.
Rebecca Shedd - Author 
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
