HMS MAGNIFICENT: miraculous seamanship - research and project development

            
            
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The ProjectI'm going to re-create, and paint a series of works depicting the one of the greatest feats of seamanship ever recorded. Above are thumbnails of these sketches, but it might help if you readthe following:
The EVENT...On the 16th December 1814, the 74 gun ship "Magnificent" was anchored in Basque Roadsjust off the 'Isle de Re', near La Rochelle, on the west coast of France. Captain Hayes had ordered the t'gant masts struck and the topmasts housed (lowered - slid down the masts) in order to ride out the coming gale, but as night was falling, the anchor began to drag, and the ship was then in imminent danger of being wrecked on the reefonly 400m astern.Hayes then ordered his men to partially re-hoist the topmasts, and then spoke to them as follows:

"my men, you must, by this time, be sensible that our situation is one which calls for the utmost exertion of all. It is, in fact, one of life or one of death. The orders you are about to receive are new, and may perhaps appear extraordinary. Youmust, nevertheless, execute them on the instant without a moments hesitation, in which case I trust in God, I may be able to bring the ship into a safe position after the cables are cut.On the other hand, should you unfortunately hesitate or become unsteady and keep fastsails ordered to let fall, or let fall those directed to be kept fast, or, in short, not exert yourselves to the utmost in the execution of orders you will receive, life cannot be ours beyond five minutes!"

The PlanHayes' plan was to "Club-haul" his ship about. This means that a cable from the stern of theship would be attached to the anchor cable, and the anchor cable let out, so that the ship wouldbe lying sideways on to the swell, but pointing in the right direction (B). Both cables would be cut at the same time, the sails loosed, and the ship would sail off in safety.That was the plan... (see diagram)
What actually happened was...Having attached the stern cable, and in veering more anchor cable, the ship was struck on the bow by a large wave. This parted to anchor cable, and to make matters worse, the shipwas pointing in the wrong direction, and falling astern fast.Hayes rescued the situation by ordering the sails on the foremast to be loosed immediately.This spun the front of the ship round, away from the wind, until they no longer could hold windand were "shivering" (flapping), when he ordered the Mizzen (rear) mast sails set, which nowcontinued to push the stern of the ship round, until the Fore sails could draw wind again. The shipwas by now pointing in the right direction, and Hayes ordered the mail sails set, and the shipsailed safely away.  (see diagram)
The really amazing thing is...This had never ever been done before or since. There is no-one alive who has the skill (orofficial permission) to repeat this with any sailing vessel.The nearest equivalent today I can think of would be to park a 44 tonne Truck between two others using a 180 deg. full power skid and handbrake turn.
The sketchesThese represent the stages of the manoeuvre.(1) T+15 secs. Large wave hits the bow and the cable parts.(2) T+45 secs. Bow falls off to starboard-Foresails and jibs set at the rush.(3) T+1 minute. Foresails backed to push bow round. Wavewash and fag end of cable seen.(4) T+1 min 15 secs. Foresails flogging, as mizzen sails set. Stern coming round.(5) T+2 mins. Ship on right course, Main sails set, disaster avoided.