OK, I'm a word snob

[SFS]

...Any others?

Decimate. Most don't get that they are underselling a change greater than 10%.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Lately there's been this overuse of the word obliterate.

Decimate. Most don't get that they are underselling a change greater than 10%.

 

[Maine Sail]

The one that make's my skin crawl is the "RPM's". Its revolutions per minute" not revolutions per minutes. (grin)

 

[Joe]

Geez you guys, chill out. Can we just accept that some folks aren't that into it.

 

[Stu Jackson]

that some folks aren't that into it.

Another good one, Joe. Maybe we should obliterate it.

 

[Ward H]

I read this thread with both amusement and with sympathy for newbies who think this thread is making fun of them.

Those that are sailing lingo/terms proficient and purists, ( hate to hear bathroom instead of head ) do you only accept guests on your boat that are literate in sailing terms? If they ask where is the bathroom do you require them to use the correct term and if not, walk the plank (or hold it)?

Advising a sailing newbie to study a book about sailing terms and only post your newbie question after you learn all of the correct terms is not very welcoming to those new to sailing and the forum.

Neither is laughing at those who misuse the sailing terms.

We all started somewhere and most likely it was not studying the correct sailing terms first.

I guess I'm multilingual. When talking to other sailors I try to use proper sailing terms, with non sailors I don't.

For those who posted in humor, great.
For those who are purist, I agree with @Joe , Chill.

 

[BarryL]

Hey,

In all seriousness, knowing the terms is important when racing. If I tell a crew please ease the outhaul one inch they need to know which LINE is the outhaul and to ease (not tighten or bring in) 1".

When we're going to set the spinnaker the crew need to know
Put on the port spinnaker halyard
pull the tack line until the tack is at the bowsprit
Raise the halyard
Trim the sheet
Ease the genoa sheet and furl the sail
and so on.

This isn't as important when cruising and we don't expect noobies to know all terms when racing (and we don't take inexperienced crew on distance races) but it sure is nice when it all comes together.
Barry

 

[Kings Gambit]

That's one thing that living aboard changed permanently in my lexicon. I don't use the word bathroom any more, be it on land or elsewhere. It's causing me some problem in Europe, when I have to amend it to "WC".

Yeah, that's how it's labeled in my German-built yacht, WC for Water Closet.

 

[Kings Gambit]

Hey,

In all seriousness, knowing the terms is important when racing. If I tell a crew please ease the outhaul one inch they need to know which LINE is the outhaul and to ease (not tighten or bring in) 1".

When we're going to set the spinnaker the crew need to know
Put on the port spinnaker halyard
pull the tack line until the tack is at the bowsprit
Raise the halyard
Trim the sheet
Ease the genoa sheet and furl the sail
and so on.

This isn't as important when cruising and we don't expect noobies to know all terms when racing (and we don't take inexperienced crew on distance races) but it sure is nice when it all comes together.
Barry

I guess you are referring to an asymmetrical spinnaker. For our symmetrical one, there is no tack or "tack line." The after-guy is used to pull one spinnaker clew to the spinnaker pole as the sail is hoist and control it (the pole) there. One then trims with the sheet attached to the other clew, etc.

KG

 

[Kings Gambit]

Another good one, Joe. Maybe we should obliterate it.

Chapter 1 Departure
(On weighing anchor for departure.)

"Unintelligible orders were so immediately given and so rapidly executed; there was such a hurrying about and such an intermingling of strange cries and strange actions that I was completely bewildered. There is not so helpless and pitiable an object in the world as a landsman beginning a sailor’s life."

Richard Henry Dana, "Two Years Before the Mast"