Neat exposition! I also have similar questions in mind. Expecially the real aspect of Spires! They appear to be no "spires" al all, but cylinders, or (perhaps) cubes!

Hi, just started reading "The Aeronaut's Windlass" and I like it! But I'm not English mother language, so I have troubles sometimes. One is about terms like "Windlass", that I know as a machine for rising anchors or heavy bag in ships. I cannot imagine why the ship is defined a "Windlass." Thank you.