By hauling the reef-tackles chock-a-block, we took the strain from the other earings, and passing the close-reef earing, and knotting the points carefully, we succeeded in setting the sail, close-reefed. ❋ Unknown (1909)
No sooner had we got on deck, thanLay aloft there, mizen-top-men, and close-reef the mizen topsail! ❋ Unknown (1909)
We were then carrying the double reefed topsails, reefed courses, inner jib, fore and main topmast staysail, but the gale had so increased I gave orders to close-reef the topsails and furl the mainsail. ❋ Walter Runciman (1892)
It served as a hint to us in the gig, for if the stranger had detected symptoms that her royals would presently be too much for her, it was high time for us to look after ourselves; and we accordingly proceeded forthwith to close-reef our lug, and otherwise make such preparations as were possible to enable us effectively to meet the onslaught of the threatened squall. ❋ Harry Collingwood (1886)
Set some of the men to secure the canvas with double gaskets; and close-reef the boom-foresail and set it. ❋ Harry Collingwood (1886)
My next job was to close-reef and set the lug, which I did with the aid of the winch; and this done, I went forward, and, beginning with the fore-scuttle, proceeded to carefully batten down every opening in the deck, bringing the cabin lamp on deck in order that I might have a sufficiency of light to work by. ❋ Harry Collingwood (1886)
To send down on deck any of his top-hamper, with his limited crew, was of course quite out of the question, but he called all hands, and, hurrying them aloft, set them to work, first to furl all the light upper canvas, and then to close-reef both topsails. ❋ Harry Collingwood (1886)
"Hands shorten sail!" accordingly was the repeated cry; and, knowing what was wanted, the crew were soon racing up the shrouds to close-reef the topsails, although the force of the wind nearly pinned them to the rigging like spread eagles, and they had hard difficulty in gaining the yards, and working out along the foot-ropes, especially on those to windward. ❋ William Heysham Overend (1874)
At midnight the gale increased, and the watch was called out to close-reef the topsails. ❋ James Runciman (1871)
No sooner had we got on deck, than - "Lay aloft there, mizen-top-men, and close-reef the mizen topsail!" ❋ Unknown (1869)
Joe Chambers shouted to the sailors to close-reef the mizzen and hoist it, so that he might have the boat better under control. ❋ Unknown (1867)
By hauling the reef-tackles chock-a-block we took the strain from the other earings, and passing the close-reef earing, and knotting the points carefully, we succeeded in setting the sail, close reefed. ❋ Charles Dudley Warner (1864)
"Right you are, lad," said Jim, and called all hands to close-reef. ❋ Unknown (1859)
"Better close-reef the top-sails, sir," said the mate, touching his cap, and pointing to the cloud just referred to. ❋ Unknown (1859)
"Don't 'ee think we'd better close-reef the tops'l?" said Bunks, as Job came on deck; "if you'll take the helm, Jim and me will lay out on the yard." ❋ Unknown (1859)
He had scarcely uttered the words when the captain gave orders to close-reef the top-sails. ❋ Unknown (1859)
"Thou art but too good a fellow, Starbuck," he said lowly to the mate; then raising his voice to the crew: "Furl the t'gallant-sails, and close-reef the top-sails, fore and aft; back the main-yard; up Burton, and break out in the main-hold." ❋ Herman Melville (1855)
"Thou art but too good a fellow, Starbuck," he said lowly to the mate; then raising his voice to the crew: "Furl the t'gallant-sails, and close-reef the top-sails, fore and aft; back the main-yard; up Burtons, and break out in the main-hold." ❋ Herman Melville (1855)
'Thou art but too good a fellow, Starbuck, 'he said lowly to the mate; then raising his voice to the crew:' Furl the t'gallant-sails and close-reef the top-sails, fore and aft; back the main-yard; up Burtons, and break out in the main - hold. ' ❋ Unknown (1851)
