The Deckhouse A sailing ship is like a streamlined warehouse with all the offices on the roof. It is her capacity to carry cargo that earns her profit. l \ HU .\l .\ "' I
.\ l\1 :"\ \l.\ " l
UO WSPRIT
None of the space below is wasted on living quarters (or on machinery and fuel storage a big advantage in the sailing ships' competition with steam). Sailors speak of serving "in" a ship, but it might be more accurate to say "on," since all the accommodations on a sa iling cargo ship are in deck struct ures like this one or under the raised decks over the narrow, flairing ends fore and aft. Only an emergency like a shift of cargo, a fire in the h old or a bad leak would take the sailor below decks once at sea.
A century before ELISSA was built, the galley might have been a removable structure lashed to the deck, to be taken off and out of the way to work cargo in port. Galley and cook were sometimes lost together as seas swept the deck in a storm. By ELISSA's time, the deckhouse was a permanent structure, housing the galley and accommodations for cook and carpenter. On larger vessels, the carpenter's workshop and quarters for the bosun and several apprentices were added to the deckhouse, which was usually made of steel. ELISSA's wooden deckhouse also has space for a steam "donkey" engine, used in handling cargo.
Aloft and Stow The gale rises and the ship begins to be burdened by her full press of canvas; time to take in her royals - the highest sails - before they blow away. It's "aloft and stow" for two of the watch. Eighty-five feet above deck and sea, the rigging reels in vast dizzying circles; the wind howls and the sail, loosely gathered by buntlines and clewlines from the deck, kicks violently on the lowered yard. The canvas must be subdued and lashed securely with gaskets passed around the yard and sail by seamen balancing on the footrope, clinging to the yard by belly and elbows. It takes courage and a cool head .
SEA HISTORY, WINTER 1982/ 83
25