I see more and more of you salty dogs that don’t use proper jargon. Whether a yarn 3 leagues long about the time you were in the fo’c’sle with you first mate, or a inquisition about how to harden up, or how to stop yawing. This sailor thinks that all this pontificating needs to have a little more salt in it. So come tie your lines to my quarter and douse this landlubber jargon. Keep you eye to the wind, luff up, and lets keep a tight ship.
Are we landlubbers or sailors!!!
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See salts like that all the time.
I see captains with that attitude all the time. When they have a freshman crew on board and they scream and hollar alot of essoteric jargon that only a few understand. It really turns off alot of people to sailing when they don't understand what is going on. This forum is for the masses not just the old salts. Stephen Fierro Captain of Calamity
I see captains with that attitude all the time. When they have a freshman crew on board and they scream and hollar alot of essoteric jargon that only a few understand. It really turns off alot of people to sailing when they don't understand what is going on. This forum is for the masses not just the old salts. Stephen Fierro Captain of Calamity
The masses???
Well...at least he didn't say "great unwashed."
What's wrong with using correct terminology? Every occupation also has its terminology and jargon...I'll bet you use that (or do you also tell your boss and co-workers that you're one of the "masses" who shouldn't have to?) So why not in sailing too? Granted, you can go over the top with it, but knowing what something is properly called--and WHY it is--actually makes communication easier...and has the added advantage of not making it immediately obvious that you're not really a sailor, you just happen to own a sailboat. Runnin' for cover now...
Well...at least he didn't say "great unwashed."
What's wrong with using correct terminology? Every occupation also has its terminology and jargon...I'll bet you use that (or do you also tell your boss and co-workers that you're one of the "masses" who shouldn't have to?) So why not in sailing too? Granted, you can go over the top with it, but knowing what something is properly called--and WHY it is--actually makes communication easier...and has the added advantage of not making it immediately obvious that you're not really a sailor, you just happen to own a sailboat. Runnin' for cover now...Jargon is important
I just can't stand hearing someone say, " get the left rope for the front sail". As sailors with self respect, we can't let it come to that!
I just can't stand hearing someone say, " get the left rope for the front sail". As sailors with self respect, we can't let it come to that!
Proper names!
Dont get bent out of shape, I knew most of what he was talking about! However I talk English to my crews, and while every subject has its word power, is it really necessary for just having a good time on the water? Or any other place for that matter? Knowing rules of the road, and names of the parts on your boat, is more important, at least that is my two cents!
Dont get bent out of shape, I knew most of what he was talking about! However I talk English to my crews, and while every subject has its word power, is it really necessary for just having a good time on the water? Or any other place for that matter? Knowing rules of the road, and names of the parts on your boat, is more important, at least that is my two cents!
Oh yes!
Oh yes, taking a date on board, and trying to get her to abide by the old tradition of having naked women aboard (to please Neptune, of course), well Im sure if she is hearing all that jargon, she will really be in the mood! Know what I mean? They like to hear sweet nothings in their ears, not sail talk!
Oh yes, taking a date on board, and trying to get her to abide by the old tradition of having naked women aboard (to please Neptune, of course), well Im sure if she is hearing all that jargon, she will really be in the mood! Know what I mean? They like to hear sweet nothings in their ears, not sail talk!
I Matey we must be gentle with the crew but
when they be on board our fair craft or on this here site they need a wee bit of a nudge. A sheet is a sheet not a string or a rope and when the order goes out to make fast a line if a landlubber gives you that blank stare then a little translation is in order. Thats not to say they cannot learn or a sailor has to talk two languages. So be gentle with the crew and teach these poor deprived landlubbers the language. A list of sailing terms on this site may be needed. But there be good reason different lines have names. When in a blow and the order goes out to let go the mainsil sheet or to harden up, a sailor will know what to do and won’t be standing there scratching his head or some other part of his posterior. Keep you eye to the wind matey, and may you have fair winds and a sound craft.
when they be on board our fair craft or on this here site they need a wee bit of a nudge. A sheet is a sheet not a string or a rope and when the order goes out to make fast a line if a landlubber gives you that blank stare then a little translation is in order. Thats not to say they cannot learn or a sailor has to talk two languages. So be gentle with the crew and teach these poor deprived landlubbers the language. A list of sailing terms on this site may be needed. But there be good reason different lines have names. When in a blow and the order goes out to let go the mainsil sheet or to harden up, a sailor will know what to do and won’t be standing there scratching his head or some other part of his posterior. Keep you eye to the wind matey, and may you have fair winds and a sound craft.
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i sail with guests often. i encourage their participation. i often issue commands such as "pull the big fat red line, please". after they have accomplished the mission, i take time to tell them what it is called, and what it is used for. often, seasoned sailors and newbies alike find it amusing when i use the term "pointy end of the boat". i have been sailing for over thirty years and know, or used to know almost every sailing term there is....including all of the sails on a three masted square rigger. i agree with some of the other posters that sailing can be intimidating enough without making people feel stupid because they do not know all of the jargon. with that said, i agree with original poster that after some period of time, people should do their homework and learn the ropes...or would that be learn the lines? rt
i sail with guests often. i encourage their participation. i often issue commands such as "pull the big fat red line, please". after they have accomplished the mission, i take time to tell them what it is called, and what it is used for. often, seasoned sailors and newbies alike find it amusing when i use the term "pointy end of the boat". i have been sailing for over thirty years and know, or used to know almost every sailing term there is....including all of the sails on a three masted square rigger. i agree with some of the other posters that sailing can be intimidating enough without making people feel stupid because they do not know all of the jargon. with that said, i agree with original poster that after some period of time, people should do their homework and learn the ropes...or would that be learn the lines? rt
Jargon
I try to use the correct jargon to a point. I try to educate my visitors to a certain extent, but once you leave the dock you have to call it as you see it. A horse by any other name is still a horse. Regards Ricardo s/v La Vida Feliz
I try to use the correct jargon to a point. I try to educate my visitors to a certain extent, but once you leave the dock you have to call it as you see it. A horse by any other name is still a horse. Regards Ricardo s/v La Vida Feliz
Using the correct terminology is part of the...
fun. It makes it easier to understand what someone is talking about, at least once you've learned the 'language'. I've spent a bit of time now on two differnet square-riggers, and on both of them there was no quarter given the un-initiated. You learn fast when you have no choice. Yes, I've been confused a lot of times, but there was always someone on the crew that would take a small bit of pity on your sorry lubber soul and 'refresh' your memory for you. Now, if you really want to get into it, the last square-rigger I was on could be run almost entirely on hand signals. The Captain had a really old book about sailing that showed a set of hand signals that could be used to communicate any number of different commands, from setting the main to striking the mizzen, bracing square, set the raffee, prepare to fire cannons, you name it. Most of the crew had these down pretty good, and it was fun to watch the passengers stare at them making all these funny hand signals, and it sure beat trying to yell commands to the foredeck crew on a 100' boat!
fun. It makes it easier to understand what someone is talking about, at least once you've learned the 'language'. I've spent a bit of time now on two differnet square-riggers, and on both of them there was no quarter given the un-initiated. You learn fast when you have no choice. Yes, I've been confused a lot of times, but there was always someone on the crew that would take a small bit of pity on your sorry lubber soul and 'refresh' your memory for you. Now, if you really want to get into it, the last square-rigger I was on could be run almost entirely on hand signals. The Captain had a really old book about sailing that showed a set of hand signals that could be used to communicate any number of different commands, from setting the main to striking the mizzen, bracing square, set the raffee, prepare to fire cannons, you name it. Most of the crew had these down pretty good, and it was fun to watch the passengers stare at them making all these funny hand signals, and it sure beat trying to yell commands to the foredeck crew on a 100' boat!
Funny story about my wife
My wife recently attended a basic sailing seminar. She was so excited the first day, when she told me "I didn't know that "jibe" meant turning the boat while sailing down wind. She thought when I announced "ready to jibe", that I was just telling everyone that the turn would be (as she put it) "a jerky tack".
My wife recently attended a basic sailing seminar. She was so excited the first day, when she told me "I didn't know that "jibe" meant turning the boat while sailing down wind. She thought when I announced "ready to jibe", that I was just telling everyone that the turn would be (as she put it) "a jerky tack".
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