CHART POWER An accurate chart of a stretch of newly discovered coast could prove more valuable than gold. In 1682, Bartholemew Sharpe and two friends were tried for piracy before the High Court of the Admiralty. Despite having killed 200 people, sinking 25 ships, and doing damage valued at 4 million pieces of eight, all three were found not guilty. The reason, Sharpe had captured a book of charts of the South American coastline. On his return to England he had presented them to King Charles II. The King himself made sure Sharpe came to no harm.
RIGGING
A ship carried many hundreds of feet of hemp rope, as well as pulleys (blocks), sails, and spars (the beams from which sails were hung). The mainstays (shrouds) of the masts were crossed with ratlines.
RIGGING
A ship carried many hundreds of feet of hemp rope, as well as pulleys (blocks), sails, and spars (the beams from which sails were hung). The mainstays (shrouds) of the masts were crossed with ratlines.
ANCHOR
An absolutely essential piece of equipment used when there was no safe harbor or jetty nearby.
SHOW A LEG
The hammock was invented by native Caribs and adopted by sailors as a bed on board ship. The phrase "show a leg," meaning "get on with it," was originally a command for sailors to get up out of their hammocks.
WINDLASS
The mainsails and their spars were tremendously heavy, especially when wet. The windlass allowed a few men to raise them quickly. It was also used for lifting the anchor.
THE TOILET
When pirates wanted to relieve themselves, they went to a rope cage suspended over the sea in the bows.
An absolutely essential piece of equipment used when there was no safe harbor or jetty nearby.
SHOW A LEG
The hammock was invented by native Caribs and adopted by sailors as a bed on board ship. The phrase "show a leg," meaning "get on with it," was originally a command for sailors to get up out of their hammocks.
WINDLASS
The mainsails and their spars were tremendously heavy, especially when wet. The windlass allowed a few men to raise them quickly. It was also used for lifting the anchor.
THE TOILET
When pirates wanted to relieve themselves, they went to a rope cage suspended over the sea in the bows.
