CASTING, the motion of falling off, so as to bring the direction of the wind on either side of the ship after it had blown for some time right a-head.

CHAINS, strong links or plates of iron, the lower ends of which are bolted through the ship’s side to the timbers. They are placed at short distances from each other on the ship’s outside, as being used to contain the blocks called dead-eyes, by which the shrouds of the mails are extended.

CHEEKS of the mast, the faces or projecting parts on each side of the masts, used to sustain the frame of the top, together with the top-mast, which rests immediately upon them.

CLAWING, or CLAWING-OFF, the act of beating or turning to windward from a lee-shore, so as to acquire a sufficient distance from it, to escape the dangers of shipwreck.

CLEATS, pieces of wood of different shapes, used occasionally to fasten ropes upon in a ship.

CLENCH, or CLINCH, that part of a cable, or other rope, which is fastened to the ring of the anchor.

CLOSE upon a wind, or CLOSE-HAULED, the general arrangement or trim of a ship’s sails, when she endeavours to make a progress in the nearest direction possible towards that point of the compass from which the wind blows.

To CLEW, or CLUE-UP, to truss the sails up to the yards by tackles fastened to their lower corners, called their clues.

COCKSWAIN, or COXEN, the officer who manages and steers a boat, and has the command of the boat’s crew.

COMPANION, a sort of wooden porch placed over the entrance or stair case of the master’s cabin in a merchant-ship.

COURSES, a name by which the principal sails of a ship are usually distinguished, viz. the main-sail, fore-sail, and mizen.

CRANK, the quality of a ship which for want of a sufficient quantity of ballast or cargo, is rendered incapable of carrying sail without being exposed to the danger of overturning.

Voyaging Accounts