ned under the various heads of great circle sailing,
Mercator's sailing, middle latitude sailing, oblique sailing, parallel
sailing, plane sailing.

SAILING, ORDER OF. The general disposition of a fleet of ships when
proceeding on a voyage or an expedition. It is generally found most
convenient for fleets of ships of war to be formed in three parallel
lines or columns. But squadrons of less than ten sail of the line are
placed in two lines.

SAILING CAPTAIN. An officer in some navies, whose duties are similar to
those of our masters in the royal navy.

SAILING DIRECTIONS. Works supplied by the admiralty to Her Majesty's
ships, which advise the navigator as to the pilotage of coasts and
islands throughout the world.

SAILING ICE. A number of loose pieces floating at a sufficient distance
from each other, for a ship to be able to pick her way among them.
Otherwise termed _open ice_; when she forces her way, pushing the ice
aside, it is termed boring.

SAILING LARGE. With a quartering wind. (_See_ LARGE.)

SAILING ORDERS. Written instructions for the performance of any proposed
duty.

SAIL-LOFT. A large apartment in dockyards where the sails are cut out
and made.

SAIL-LOOSERS. Men specially appointed to loose the sails when getting
under weigh, or loosing them to dry.

SAIL-MAKER. A qualified person who (with his mates) is employed on board
ship in making, repairing, or altering the sails; whence he usually
derives the familiar sobriquet of _sails_.

SAIL-NETTING. The fore-topmast staysail, main-topmast staysail, and main
staysail are generally stowed in the nettings.

SAILOR. A man trained in managing a ship, either at sea or in harbour. A
thorough sailor is the same with mariner and seaman, but as every one of
the crew is dubbed a sailor, there is much difference in the absolute
meaning of the term. (_See_ MARINER and SEAMAN.)

SAILORS' HOME. A house built by subscription, for the accommodation of
seamen on moderate terms, and to rescue them from swindlers, crimps, &c.
Sailors' homes are a great boon also to shipwrecked mariners. Homes for
married seamen and their families are now contemplated, and it is hoped
that the admiralty will set the example, by building them for the royal
navy, and letting them at moderate rents.

SAILOR'S PLEASURE. A rather hyperbolic phrase for a sailor's overhauling
his ditty-bag at a leisure moment, and restowing his little hoard.

SAILS, TO LOOSE. To unfurl them, and let