“Lee-oh!” hollers the captain. “ease the helm down,” he says quietly to the helmsman.
“Helm down” Aye aye, sir.”
“Helm's-a-lee!” the captain bellows.
The Beara Head turning to windward--capenter and mate easing the jib sheets a little, the doctor the foresheet, to spill some wind out of the sails. On the poop, the apprentices hauling the spanker and in hand—they'll provide wind leverage to help turn the barque like a weathercock—sails beginning to shake as the wind comes ahead.
“Raise the tacks and sheets!” --the captain
Seamen letting go main and crojack lines and hauling the sails up by their clewlines so they'll swing free; the coming up closer to the wind, sails flogging and rattling, lines flailing, masts vibrating—the seamen can feel it in their feet through the deck....