Help with a decision

[Don Case]

I'm rigging the top gallants and maybe royals on the Discovery1789. If I go to Vancouver's journal I can find many mentions of topgallant sails but not one mention of royals. I would think that this means they never had/used royals. If so does this mean they probably didn't have royal masts either?

 

[AndyA]

If there is mention of topgallant sails but no mention of royals I would agree that they probably weren't ever set. That would lead one to conclude that the royal masts weren't stepped. On a vessel the size of the Discovery they would be small, annoying things and not worth the trouble. Remember that on Vancouver's voyage there wasn't any need for maximum speed. Slow and steady is the way of exploration. I would conclude that, in the absence of evidence of the use of royals, they should be left off a model.
Fair winds!

 

[Don Case]

Thanks. I was surprised how often the set the studding sails. They would be in the middle of the Pacific in light air and they would set the studding sails and then two hours later take them down. Once they were in the Inside Passage he hardly ever mentions the sails.

 

[AndyA]

Thanks. I was surprised how often the set the studding sails. They would be in the middle of the Pacific in light air and they would set the studding sails and then two hours later take them down. Once they were in the Inside Passage he hardly ever mentions the sails.

The frequent use of studding sails chips away at my idea of slow and steady sailing for exploration. Does the log specify whether they were set to port or starboard or both sides? I'm thinking that they may have been set on one side to make for steadier sailing and easier steering depending on sea conditions and wind direction.

 

[Don Case]

No. He is very vague about, actually, anything to do with the ship. I guess all that stuff was so common that he didn't think it needed further explanation. I also have 5 or 6 journals of the midshipmen but they are original hand written and very hard to read. Their handwriting is very good but most of the time it's just too faint to make out. Their is a few gems in there. Just a quick sample of no particular thing.