Answer During Examination


If I recall it goes something like:
"Wind blowing North by Northeast, Dover off the lee and the wind goes changes and goes aback 4 degrees, what do you do"?

Horatio does not get the time to answer before the other Admiral says, "by this time you are dismasted" and then Foster confirms this.

From what I think the answer would be that since the ship is dismasted, the best course would be use the current boat wind available and steer towards the cliffs and into the wind to stop the ship. Though the wind has changed only 4 degrees with the masts and sails down it would slow the ship down as well as going into the wind and perhaps into the dead area below the cliffs and as long as the wind does not change from north to south there should be less danger of hitting the cliffs. Then I would drop anchor. But of course none of this may occur without first taking care of the mess on the deck of the masts and sails in the water. If the sails were in the water this would be of paramount importance to remove these first, but if they did not sink the boat they would slow it down.

I suppose that is the answer I would give. The answer changes once dismasted.

reply

Without a heading specified, or a wind force, there is no right answer........a wind change of 4 degrees would hardly impact a ship under light airs........

reply

I'd be cutting down the masts and throwing the guns overboard. If that didn't slow the ship down I would yell abandon ship and hope for the best. (This is why the Navy does NOT want me; well that and my lousy ASVAB scores)

reply

Replying to a post from a couple of years ago, but I'll chip in anyway...

The wind direction and a strength were given IIRC. The change in direction was 4 points, not degrees, so AIUI that's 45 degrees, which is somewhat more significant.

reply

Correct. it was POINTS, not Degrees. 4 points is a much greater direction change. A point being 11.25 degrees.

I joined the Navy to see the world, only to discover the world is 2/3 water!

reply

with the exception of it being 4 points (45 degrees) rather than 4 degrees, you stated the problem accurately but not completely. I dont recall the whole thing either but to solve the problem would require knowing more of the ships condition. what point of sail was she on and what was she steering.
I think they did say in the problem but I dont recall it.

I joined the Navy to see the world, only to discover the world is 2/3 water!

reply

"You're close hauled on the port tack Mr Hornblower, beating up Channel with a nor'easterly wind blowing strong with Dover bearing north two miles. Is that understood?"

"Yes sir."

"Now the wind veers four points taking you flat aback. What do you do sir? What do you do?"

Pause

"By now you are dismasted. Dismasted sir, cliffs of Dover under your lee. You're in very serious trouble Mr, er, Hornblower."


reply

Umm - trying to picture it... the wind abacking and moving 4 points round... that takes him round onto a beam reach with close-hauled sails?

Yeah - that would rip the rig to bits...

And with Dover under his lee, maybe he either needs to slam the helm hard over to come back closer to the wind... but maybe heaving-to and getting the anchor out...

And fire flares....

I reckon the dull "thump-thump-thump" of maroons going up would be a welcome sight...

reply