8. At The Helm

The Helmsman, steered the ship’s wheel under the supervision of the quartermaster. It was a junior role, and any trained sailor could take the wheel during rotating watch shifts. Senior crew, rarely the captain, handled the helm only in difficult situations. Pirate ships followed the same watch systems as naval ships.

The compass was kept at the helm due to its importance in navigation. To protect it from harsh weather, compasses were housed in binnacles, wood enclosures used since the 1700s and placed in the helmsman’s line of sight. 

Helm orders fell into two main categories: rudder commands and heading commands.  The following are helm orders given to the helmsman;

Rudder

Midships - (Bring rudder angle to 0 degrees)

Meet Her - (Counter steer to stop movement of the ship's bow)

Hard Rudder - (Used in emergencies, when max rudder is needed)

Left or Right Standard Rudder - (~20 degrees. Varies per ship)

Shift Your Rudder - (Same number of degrees but opposite rudder angle)

Heading

Steady As She Goes - (Steer to current heading)

Steady On A Course - (Steer to bring ship on course)