"Double the Cape"--Origin of Phrase?

[Kings Gambit]

I realize that to "double the cape" (by present definition) is to sail, or pass, by it--- especially around it. So, when one doubles Cape Horn, one has sailed past or around it into the Pacific Ocean if sailing west from the Atlantic. But where does this expression come from? Is it at all related the coastal navigation method of determining ones distance from a cape, promontory, lighthouse, or whatever, by doubling the angle on the bow? If so--what's that connection?

 

[rgranger]

I type "origin of..." into google and all I got was this posting...

 

[Kings Gambit]

I did find this, which may have the answer. Suggests that one is completely around the cape or promontory in a definitive way, and that the phrase has nothing to do with doubling the angle on the bow for the purpose of coastal piloting.

Doubling the Horn (day 218, 19,446 miles)
Posted on January 17, 2012 by Matt
"I’ve now doubled the Horn, which means I sailed from 50 south to 50 south non-stop."

 

[Kings Gambit]

And this:

" ... This route implied that we would ‘double the Horn’ a curious phrase left over from the sailing ship era. Doubling the Horn entails sailing nonstop from a point above the 50th parallel in the Atlantic, down around the Horn and back to a point above the 50th parallel in the Pacific. Only this near 1,000-mile passage was considered a genuine Cape Horn rounding and according to legendary author and seaman, Alan Villiers, "nothing else counted as a rounding, for the eastward passage before westerly gales was reckoned no rounding at all." The lyrics from the old sea chantey say it best:

'From 50 south to 50 south you won’t grow fat and lazy boys,
For the winds that howl around Cape Horn, will surely drive you crazy boys,'"

 

[SFS]

I was under the (perhaps mistaken) impression that doubling the horn meant you had rounded it twice, either in the same direction or once in each direction. Seems like the Pardeys discussed this in one of their books.

 

[okawbow]

Seems I've read somewhere that boats that sailed the route from New York to San Fransisco and back again, " Doubled the horn".

 

[shemandr]

Well now I'm going to have to pull out my copy of The Blind Horn's Hate and see if there is a reference. It's a great book about the history of Cape Horn in the Age of Sail. It's time to re-read it anyway.

 

[Benny17441]

It is likely a term derived from the Spanish or Portuguese sailors. The words "Doblar" or "Dobrar" mean to "bend" or "take the bend". There are similarities in meaning between "taking the bend" and "rounding". While the term "from 50 to 50" may define a proper rounding it is unlikely that "doubling" means to do it twice.

 

[rgranger]

Not having any actual knowledge... Benny's explanation has the smell of truth to it... Anyway it sounds like a good explanation and I'm guessing if you said with authority at the local watering hole... everyone will walk away thinking you are the saltiest dude in the place.....

 

[Justin_NSA]

I agree. To 'double' something is to bend it in half. Between that and the 50/50 parallel thing, I think we have a valid explanation.

 

[Kings Gambit]

It is likely a term derived from the Spanish or Portuguese sailors. The words "Doblar" or "Dobrar" mean to "bend" or "take the bend". There are similarities in meaning between "taking the bend" and "rounding". While the term "from 50 to 50" may define a proper rounding it is unlikely that "doubling" means to do it twice.

It does appear that "double", as in double the cape or other promontory, is a general term--one not specific for the Cape Horn rounding. In any close rounding, one essentially "doubles back" close to the reciprocal course of an earlier heading. For example--north to south, then south to north. I suppose that might also be seen as bending back toward an earlier position. After all, what does a metal shop "bender" do to but bend iron rod into a u-shape? So, the old salts have taken the general word for the complete rounding of a cape--i.e., to "double it", and gave it a precise definition for Cape Horn--i.e., to pass through 50 deg S heading south, then again heading back north on the other side. Thus, nobody gets into the Cape Horner's "club" w/o having truly "doubled the cape" and everybody (now) knows what that means!!

 

[capta]

I agree with okawbow on this one. I'd guess the term was used by the ships that sailed the NY-SF run, the whalers and/or the China tea traders.

 

[Kings Gambit]

I think the evidence points to the fact one doubles the Horn by going around it. So, one would double the horn outbound from NY to SF, and then double the Horn again inbound from SF to NY. "Doubling" is evidently not a term specific to the rounding of Cape Horn.

 

[Ron20324]

[QUOTE...... Benny's explanation has the smell of truth to it... .....[/QUOTE]

You forget... this is nautical stuff, and common sense does not prevail

 

[rgranger]

[QUOTE...... Benny's explanation has the smell of truth to it... .....

You forget... this is nautical stuff, and common sense does not prevail[/QUOTE]
Good one
Made me laugh

 

[Gene Neill]

KG, you are correct: to "double" simply means to sail around something, such as a peninsula, promontory or cape. It has nothing to do with where it was done, or how many times.

Can't help you with the origin though ... sorry.

 

[Carol A Binkley]

I agree with Benny. I believe the phrase is of Portuguese origin, and does not refer to "50 and 50", for this reason. I have read primary source material on the original Gil Eannes who "doubled the cape at Bohador", thus rounding what was known as a very risky cape, but had to be done in order for exploration to take place along the Atlantic coast of Africa. Prince Henry known as the Navigator, according to D'Azurara, the Portuguese Chronicler, stated "...the perils are great; but so are the rewards", to motivate his sailing captains to undertake the risk. Apparently Gil Eannes was able to take advantage of some sort of Atlantic wind or water motion that went to the west, and was thus able to round, or "double" the cape. And reached the African Coast south of the dangerous cape, and history was made.
When I read that phrase, I also wondered what the origin was.

 

[capta]

My impression was it came into being as a saying from the China Clippers, setting out from Atlantic ports for China around the Horn east to west and returning west to east. Time was of the essence on the voyage because the first ship back could command the highest prices for their cargo of tea.

 

[Carol A Binkley]

The Great Tea Races, "Extreme Surfing" with a mission! Until the steamers came along and "sailed" through the Suez.

Interesting how Europeans could always turn something into a race!! And with good outcomes.

However, I believe the phrase was in use long before the tea races took place. About four hundred years before.

 

[Kings Gambit]

I agree with Benny. I believe the phrase is of Portuguese origin, and does not refer to "50 and 50", for this reason. I have read primary source material on the original Gil Eannes who "doubled the cape at Bohador", thus rounding what was known as a very risky cape, but had to be done in order for exploration to take place along the Atlantic coast of Africa. Prince Henry known as the Navigator, according to D'Azurara, the Portuguese Chronicler, stated "...the perils are great; but so are the rewards", to motivate his sailing captains to undertake the risk. Apparently Gil Eannes was able to take advantage of some sort of Atlantic wind or water motion that went to the west, and was thus able to round, or "double" the cape. And reached the African Coast south of the dangerous cape, and history was made.
When I read that phrase, I also wondered what the origin was.

The 50-50 connection refers to the “extent” of doubling that qualifies a sailor to be recognized as a Cape Horner. One must pass 50 deg South, heading south, on one side of the Cape, then pass 50 deg South heading north on the other side to have doubled it, or bent around it. A vessel passing 50 deg South heading south, say, on the Pacific side, passes by the Cape and then reaches only 55-60 deg South in the Atlantic before easting some thousand or more miles, would not have doubled the Cape in the eyes of the Cape Horners.