Many of you likely already know these things, but I thought I'd post a few definitions for those who don't.

First, I patterned the ship Princess Deirdre after the USS Constitution, with thanks to both the original designer and the sites that gave me the information I needed. The Constitution did have a stern post as I've described, able to create drag and pull the ship around on her stern. It was quite a surprise for more than a few British warships fighting her.

Sheets are actually the lines that control the sails rather than the sails themselves. I know when I first started reading stories and accounts of sailing ships, I thought sheets were synonymous with sails. Imagine my surprise when I found out differently. Sails were, and are, known as canvas.

Lateen rigging means the ship using it has triangular sails on a long yard set at an angle to the deck. This configuration gave greater maneuverability, but lacked the speed square rigged ships could attain in a good wind on open seas.

Square rigged ships had the type of sails most people associate with the old sailing vessels. They used rectangular sails, and were capable of reaching speeds in the open sea that no Lateen rigged ship could manage.

Okay, this finishes my info-dump. I do hope everyone enjoys this chapter of Maiden which has grown past my original intent to the point where it will take at least another few chapters to finish.

Also, thank you all for the kind comments and praise for the story, and especially thanks to those of you who found things that weren't quite right and told me about it. I value nice comments, but a good criticism is something that is priceless for a writer.

In closing, Deirdre is nowhere near finished with her rather epic journey into both womanhood and love. Not to mention danger. I haven't started plotting it out yet, but my evil subconscious is already plotting the next book in this one.