Due to the exceptional complexity of the propulsion system (sails), square-riggers form a special group of sailing vessels. In modern pleasure and sport sailing, simple Bermuda (triangular) sailing rigging prevails, which is widely discussed in the literature, both in terms of theory and numerous experiments. The literature on the theory on square-riggers is, in turn, limited mainly to the description of good sailing practice developed over the centuries. Its important element was maximising vessel speed, but this discussion has not been documented by scientific research. This paper presents the significant parameters influencing the speed of a square-rigged sailing vessel and selects those which are the most important from the point of view of its maximisation. The paper also proposes methods and measurement systems which optimise selected parameters affecting the achievement of higher speeds. The paper describes the types of speeds of typical sailing vessels, provides a historical synthesis of sailing ships with respect to their speed, and presents a selection and description of the parameters affecting the speed of modern square-rigged vessels. The paper ends with a proposed method and measurement system for experimental research aiming at rigging optimisation in a square-rigged sailing vessel from the point of view of maximising its speed.

Concentrating on Propertius 3.21 in particular, this article identifies a previously unnoticed network of allusions by three Roman poets (Catullus, Propertius and Ovid) to one another and to Book 1 of Apollonius Rhodius’ Argonautica. It shows that these intertextual links are pivoted on the three poets’ common use of the verse-ending lintea malo in scenes of departure by sea, and on their common interest in framing other aspects of the nautical context (especially the naval equipment involved and the presence of a favourable wind) in specific ways. Highlighting the presence in all three cases of departing male lovers with traditionally compromised or otherwise dubious claims to heroism, the article argues that each of the three instances shows the poet in question interacting competitively and self-consciously with the usages of his predecessor(s) (and with those usages’ immediate contexts) and exploiting the choices made by them to serve his new context and to advertise his personal skill in the creative deployment of revered poetic models.

The motivation for this paper was to provide computer support on the rules for sailing races. A brief overview is given of sailing terminology and racing rules. It is argued that a useful program for the racing rules should run on hand-held devices. The program should support an archive of rule scenarios, race training, self-learning of the rules, and analysis of rule disputes. SailRule is a freely available program intended to analyse and improve performance in applying the racing rules. The SailRule program has been implemented using the SuperWaba programming environment for hand-held devices. The user interface is described for the rules program. An explanation is given of the principles behind formalising and codifying the racing rules so that they can be efficiently implemented. Examples are given of how the program represents and analyses rule scenarios.