The photo demonstrates "winding," or how a miller turns the sails into the wind.

Winding uses the capstan wheel, winding chain and stage built around the mill tower.  The miller first unreels the winding chain from around the capstan wheel and attaches the anchor to a point on the stage.  He then turns the capstan wheel so the winding chain again reels around it.  This pulls the tail assembly in the direction of the anchor, which rotates the cap and sails around the mill tower.

The miller may have reposition the anchor several times to wind the sails after a significant change in wind direction.

Back to "Operations" Page                        Back to Home Page