FURLED OR STOWED SAILS

FURLED & STOWED SAILS OF A SQUARE RIGGED SAILING SHIP.

The antique sailor made ship in a bottle usually shows the square rigged sailing ship with no sails set, this is due to the ship being depicted either leaving or entering port when the sails would be furled and stowed. These events were the two most important parts of the journey for the sailors, leaving loved ones or returning to them. Some sailing ship models are also shown being towed into or out of port by a steam tug, this was necessary because these sailing ships had no engines so had to be towed in and out of port.

Sailors aloft furling the sails with a sea stow.

FURLED SAILS.

The ships sails were furled to reduce the sail area during a storm or furled when the ship reached its destination. The ships crew climbed the rigging and went aloft to physically roll and lift the sails up on top of the yard, once the sails have been furled they are stowed and secured to the yard using short lengths of rope called gaskets.

there are two types of stow:

A sea stow which is a faster, more functional stowing method and is more secure whilst at sea during a gale.

or a harbour stow which is a much neater and ship shape job, but this takes longer and is less secure than a sea stow.