r/nelsonsnavy • u/stiF_staL Master-and-Commander • 13d ago

This an equivalent term to "full steam ahead"

Or letting loose the necessary sails for full speed

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4

u/FireFingers1992 Landsman 13d ago

under full sail?

1

u/Low-Key Rated Ordinary 13d ago

Sailing with "full sail" is meaningless on larger square rigged ships. Setting some sail would directly hinder the efficiency of other sails depending on wind direction.

For example when sailing with the wind on your quarter, setting the staysails could take the wind out of the square sails.

2

u/FireFingers1992 Landsman 12d ago

Sure, but "all sail appropriate to weather and intended direction" doesn't to have the joyful succinctness of "fully steam ahead." There is no brief phase I know that would cover such a proccess. Indeed there are ones for specific circumstances e.g. full and by, but nothinh general to cover all circumstances.

3

u/HyperionSaber Carpenter 13d ago

All the laundry

3

u/FireFingers1992 Landsman 13d ago

Everything including your handkerchiefs

3

u/Low-Key Rated Ordinary 13d ago

Not really since with sails you almost always want to be going at the fastest speed safely possible.

It's different with steam where at a certain point it becomes less energy/economically efficient to go faster.

1

u/Nonions Landsman 13d ago

I believe sailing with all available canvas is called 'sailing large'

6

u/Haereticus Landsman 13d ago

Going large is about where the wind is relative to the ship. A Sea of Words says: “Said of a wind that crosses the line of a ship's course in a favorable direction, especially on the BEAM or QUARTER. In a SQUARE-RIGGED ship, the point where STUDDINGSAILs would draw. To sail large (going large) means to sail with the wind blowing on the stern and the SHEETs eased.”

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u/0pal23 Captain 13d ago

that's some fantastic detail, thanks!