Staghound 1850 by rwiederrich - 1/96 - Extreme Clipper

[rwiederrich]

On 11/28/2025 at 3:53 PM, Kenchington said:

just from looking at the image!) comes from her upper topsails being clewed down

Staghound only had topsails.  Upper and lower topsails came with the new Howes design for topsails.  This image/painting depicts her clewed topsails.  Probably following the description you suggested.

 

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Buttersworth water is a  sign of authenticity.  Note this ocean of Flying Cloud by Buttorsworth.  Same as the above painting.

 

 

[Kenchington]

1 hour ago, rwiederrich said:

Staghound only had topsails.

I stand corrected.

 

But that makes the evolution shown in the painting distinctly odd -- at least to my eye. The topsail sheets remain taut, with the clews hauled out to the yardarms of the lower yards, as expected. The topsail clew lines have likely been hauled, to aid gravity in bringing the topsail yards down to the lower-mast caps. Again, nothing odd in that.

 

What fooled me is that the lower third of each topsail leech remains semi-taut (not billowing, as the upper 2/3 are), while the bunt of each topsail is stretched to the yardarms of the topsail yard. (That's where I went wrong: It looks like the heads of lower topsails are bent to yards, when it is the bunts of deep topsails stretched.) So what have they done? Taken up tight on the reef tackles of deep reefs on each topsail? I guess that might be an effective way of temporarily reducing the power of the rig, while still keeping some headway, but I don't recall hearing of that before. (Maybe I should re-check Harland's book!)

 

Or should we just question the artist's understanding of sail handling?

 

Trevor

[rwiederrich]

16 hours ago, Kenchington said:

I stand corrected.

 

But that makes the evolution shown in the painting distinctly odd -- at least to my eye. The topsail sheets remain taut, with the clews hauled out to the yardarms of the lower yards, as expected. The topsail clew lines have likely been hauled, to aid gravity in bringing the topsail yards down to the lower-mast caps. Again, nothing odd in that.

 

What fooled me is that the lower third of each topsail leech remains semi-taut (not billowing, as the upper 2/3 are), while the bunt of each topsail is stretched to the yardarms of the topsail yard. (That's where I went wrong: It looks like the heads of lower topsails are bent to yards, when it is the bunts of deep topsails stretched.) So what have they done? Taken up tight on the reef tackles of deep reefs on each topsail? I guess that might be an effective way of temporarily reducing the power of the rig, while still keeping some headway, but I don't recall hearing of that before. (Maybe I should re-check Harland's book!)

 

Or should we just question the artist's understanding of sail handling?

 

Trevor

Trever.  Unlike reefing double topsails...a large single topsail, was reduced in size, by lowering the topsail yard...nearly too, or upon the top cap.  This permitted the sail to be reefed via the reef tackle, drawing the sail up to the lowered topsail yard, causing the upper half of the sail to flop over the lower half of the sail....reducing its effect.  this same action was produced by splitting the sail into *Upper and Lower* topsails...via the Forbes and then the Howes double topsail designs.   In this painting, Buttersworth depicts this single topsail reefing quite accurately.  Once the vessel has slowed sufficiently to allow the pilot to board....the topsail was released from reef and was fully set to again clip along nicely.  This vessel has only 4 yards per mast.  Main course, topsail, topgallant, royal.    I plan on recreating my Staghound in this arrangement.

 

Rob

[Rick310]

Beautiful paintings!!

Good explanation Rob!

Rick

[ClipperFan]

16 hours ago, Rick310 said:

Beautiful paintings!!

Good explanation Rob!

Rick

@Rick310 these James E Buttersworth pieces are some of my favorite works by him. He seemed to have a particular affinity for the magnificent vessels of Donald McKay as his beautiful portrayals are some of the most inspirational best I've seen. One observation about the Staghound image. It's documented that she had 5 sails for each mast: course, topsail, topgallant, royal and skysail. I've read that in stormy weather it was a normal practice to ship the uppermost yard to the deck to lighten the load on masts and prevent damage to spars. What's amazing is that she set a record apparently without full use of her suit of sails.

[rwiederrich]

34 minutes ago, ClipperFan said:

@Rick310 these James E Buttersworth pieces are some of my favorite works by him. He seemed to have a particular affinity for the magnificent vessels of Donald McKay as his beautiful portrayals are some of the most inspirational best I've seen. One observation about the Staghound image. It's documented that she had 5 sails for each mast: course, topsail, topgallant, royal and skysail. I've read that in stormy weather it was a normal practice to ship the uppermost yard to the deck to lighten the load on masts and prevent damage to spars. What's amazing is that she set a record apparently without full use of her suit of sails.

I concur that she had 5 yards per mast...generally.  Lowering skysail yards and all the rigging associated with it was a difficult task....not to mention, done hastily during a sudden squall or during a stretch of severe weather.   It was a common practice to do so when entering long stints of extreme weather....namely rounding the horn.....or below the 49th parallel, .to reduce these fixtures to prevent the trouble of demasting.  In lighter fair...(Tropics), these yards, along with stunsail booms were added to capture the slightest of breezes.

 

Both of these Buttersworth paintings depic, vessels in squalls or extreme weather.  Hence the shortened rig.  One last note:  When many of McKay's vessels were originally launched, they were only rigged with the highest being Royals...because the area was the same...just, that the sails were larger.  As sail plans and designs evolved...double topsails were added, topgallants, even upper and lower topgallants, royals with skysails and extreme moon sails topped off the plan.   Crazy.

 

Rob

[Rick310]

Rob, the Buttersworth’s painting of the Flying Cloud seems to show an older style windlass under the forecastle at the level of the main deck.

Rick

[rwiederrich]

On 12/3/2025 at 10:48 AM, Rick310 said:

Rob, the Buttersworth’s painting of the Flying Cloud seems to show an older style windlass under the forecastle at the level of the main deck.

Rick

It does.  It shows a number of other inaccuracies as well.  Let alone the scale issue of the men and equipment..    My point was not to point out inaccuracies of the ship, ...but the similar technique used to form the water and waves.

 

Note these other Buttersworth masterpieces.

Edited Thursday at 08:08 PM by rwiederrich