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In French
In
writing his PRACTICAL TREATISE ON SAILS, Jules
Merlin, a former student of the Petty Officers'
Academy (L'Ecole de Maistrance) and Master
Sailmaker in the port of Toulon, set himself the
task of providing expert guidance for the
sailmaker. This is the main attraction of the work
for today's reader, since it approaches its subject
from a practical standpoint: in a clear and simple
fashion, Merlin describes all the necessary steps
for making patterns, cutting, sewing and repairing
sails for all types of ships. Readers will also
learn the proper placement of a peak, a tack, and a
clew, as well as how to make a pattern for a rain
awning on the workshop floor or how to make a
mainsail for a tartan.
In three parts, the treatise acquaints us with an
old-fashioned sailmaker's workshop, where every
procedure and trick of the trade is faithfully
described by the author.
The opening chapter reintroduces some basic notions
of geometry.
Part One discusses how plans were made for sails
and explains how measurements were taken and
drawings done for sails used on all types of ships:
square sails (from lower sails to royals) but also
spankers and schooner sails, jibs and their stays,
studding-sails and their booms, and lastly all
staysails including tents and rain awnings.
Part Two presents detailed instructions for the
cutting of sails. The presentation of this integral
aspect of the sailmaker's art required over 100
pages of text. The author treats studding-sails,
fore-and-aft sails, gaff topsails, topsails, mizzen
top-gallant sails and square sails in succession
before turning his attention to curved sails
including lateen-rigged sails and jibs for a
tartan. Detailed calculations and a cutting pattern
for each type of sail guide the reader through each
step of the sailmaking process.
Part Three presents the three phases of making,
repairing and modifying sails. Here, too, each
aspect is described in great detail: from
assembling the cloths, making the sheaths, grommets
and eyelet-holes, reinforcements and tabling, reef
bands, to the placement of bolt-ropes, the author
leaves no stone unturned.
In short, this work proudly takes its place in the
body of nautical knowledge we wish to offer our
readers who are enthusiasts of naval history, be
they sailors, ship's model builders, yachtsmen or
quite simply those who love the sea.
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