weathermost

It was, therefore, the British admiral's design to reach the weathermost of these ships; and, then, to bear up, and rake them all, in succession, with the seven ships composing his division.

The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, Volume 1 James Harrison

[15] _Admiralty MS_. adds: 'having regard to press the weathermost ships and relieve such as are in distress.'

Fighting Instructions, 1530-1816 Publications Of The Navy Records Society Vol. XXIX. 1888

In so far as the author recommends a concentration on the weathermost ships his idea is sound, as they were the most difficult for the enemy to support; but since the close-hauled line had come in, they were also the van, and a concentration on the van is theoretically unsound, owing to the fact that the centre and rear came up naturally to its relief.

Fighting Instructions, 1530-1816 Publications Of The Navy Records Society Vol. XXIX. 1888

His own view of the proper form of attack from windward is to bear down upon the van or weathermost ships of the enemy in line ahead on a course oblique to the enemy's line.

Fighting Instructions, 1530-1816 Publications Of The Navy Records Society Vol. XXIX. 1888

Presumably therefore our author chose the attack on the weathermost ships, although they were also the van, as the lesser evil in spite of its serious drawbacks.

Fighting Instructions, 1530-1816 Publications Of The Navy Records Society Vol. XXIX. 1888

It runs as follows: 'When at anchor in line of battle to let go a bower anchor under foot, and pass a stout hawser from one ship to another, beginning at the weathermost ship,' an addition which would seem to have been suggested by what had recently occurred at the Nile.

Fighting Instructions, 1530-1816 Publications Of The Navy Records Society Vol. XXIX. 1888

There had been a considerable amount of signalling going on between the various men-o'-war from the moment of her first appearance, and now there was still more; but it soon ceased; the last string of flags displayed by the _Tremendous_ was acknowledged by the _Andromeda_, the weathermost frigate, and the excitement appeared to be at an end.

The Voyage of the Aurora Harry Collingwood 1886

The formation in which the Russian fleet was moored helped us, however, for we presently found ourselves rushing across the bows of their weathermost line, and we steered accordingly.

Under the Ensign of the Rising Sun A Story of the Russo-Japanese War Harry Collingwood 1886

By this time the felucca was rapidly nearing the weathermost extremity of the island that guarded and masked the entrance of the bay, and presently we weathered it handsomely and bore up to pass out to sea, gliding between the two Heads a minute later.

A Middy of the King A Romance of the Old British Navy Harry Collingwood 1886

Kicking off his boots and stockings, the skipper thereupon, without further ado, mounted the lockers, and passing his body cautiously out of the weathermost stern-port, held on by the edge of the port with one hand, whilst he reached out and felt for the brace-iron with the other.

The Voyage of the Aurora Harry Collingwood 1886