Bringing your guns to bear

[cs]

We were watching "Pirates of the Carribean" again last night and saw them do something and just had a question about it.

We are being chased by the Black Pearl and I can't remember the name of the ship we are in. But nontheless the Pearl is catching up and has the wind in her favor. So we let loose the starboard anchor and release the helm. This forces the ship to pivot at the bow with the stern swinging to port and allowing the starboard battery to bear upon the Black Pearl. One of the crew called this club hauling. Does that sound right?

Chad

[Art Read]

I believe that is indeed the correct term for the maneuver. Not to be confused with "box hauling" which involves a creative use of backed and filled squares on different masts, (depending on the rig) to bring 'round a vessel in confined quarters or when otherwise unable to wear or tack as usual.

[Meerkat]

I was watching "Horatio Hornblower: Loyalty" last night on A&E and Hornblower used box hauling to foil the french frigate hot on his heels. Left her hanging in irons and made a clean getaway! smile.gif

Another Hornblower movie "...:Duty" is on A&E tonight!

BTW, I thought the Hornblower movie was better than "Master & Commander". Better character development, more coherent and far more generally interesting! It made it noticable that Crowe was probably too old for the role he played as Jack Aubery!

Speaking of Aubery, there are at least a couple of places in the books where he uses club hauling and the narrative suggested that it was technical and obscure to most sailors of the day.

[ 12-03-2003, 03:51 PM: Message edited by: Meerkat ]

[cs]

I thought I had remember them using it in his books, but I wasn't sure.

BTW the ship in the movie they used to club haul with was called the Interceptor played by the Brig The Lady Washington.

Chad