Hello all!
I have visited this forum many times in the past but, unfortunately, I’m not much of a poster. I am really appreciative of the information that you all share and it has proven invaluable over the few years I have been in this hobby!
That said, I have a question that seems rather simplistic in its nature but have had a devil of a time finding the answer. I am currently building a ship from the Cauldercraft HMS Agamemnon 1781 model kit. I plan to rig this ship with a few furled and drying sails. I have never built a ship with sails so was wondering the following:
What kind of knot or hitch was used to bend the sails to the halyard?
My original thought was the reef knot but Harvey Garrett said in “The Arts of the Sailor” said that the reef knot was not a dependable permanent knot. He listed several uses but bending a sail was not one of them. I also referenced “Rigging Period Ship Models”, by Lennarth Petersson and, WOW! It appears this is the only detail he seems to have left out!
I’m weary of searching! Can someone lead me to a historically accurate answer?
Thanks in advance.