A brilliant little ditty written by Fred Carter on all the different sails on the STS Leeuwin, our very own Fremantle based Blue Barquentine

We start at the bowsprit and work our way back,
Sailing with ease on a starboard tack,
Flying jib, outer and inner too,
The fore topmast stays'le is clearly in view.


The course is a course, (of course, of course)
It's no fun to sail without the course.
The lower and upper and t'gallant are set,
There's more to come (you're confused I bet).
We've got a main stays'le then the nock,
(Mind your head on the swinging block),
Lower and upper main stays'le as well,
We'll keep her steady on ocean swell.


Then haul on the main-peak, haul on the throat,
To set the main, (she's a ship, not a boat),
Then climb up the mainmast, gaskets untied,
The main -gaff tops'le will quicken the ride.


Now aft to the mizzen, haul with a will,
The mizzen sets easy, (ain't sailin' a thrill),
Mizzen gaff tops'le is flying at last,
With sixteen sails set, the boat speed is fast.


That's all for now and when next we meet,
We'll learn the difference 'twixt halyard and sheet.




Copyright© 2005 The Windjammers and Myst3ryKreations