historicwharf: “The nautical term “bending”... - Dear Old Vessels

“The nautical term “bending” means tying a rope to
another rope or to a spar or post. Bending the foresail, as shown in
this photo, means tying the foresail to the yardarm which supports it.
From time to time, sails were removed for repair or replacement. This
was usually done before a ship left port, but sometimes sails had to be
replaced at sea.

This photo shows a group of men working with the foresail of the sailing ship “James Tuft”
a lumber freighter. The men are working high above the deck, standing
on lines or sitting on the yardarm. The photo was taken in an
unidentified Puget Sound port sometime around 1905.“ -MOHAI. Photo
courtesy MOHAI, Seattle Historical Society Collection, image number
shs1488.

historicwharf: “The nautical term “bending”... - Dear Old Vessels