Sailing Rituals

rfrye1 · Jan 20, 2014

As soon as I clear San Diego Harbor and head out past the kelp, cut the Yanmar, my iPhone playlist is switched to an hour's worth of Bob Marley.
Ya Mon!

Happy New Year.
Bob.

kloudie1 · Jan 21, 2014

Not for daysailing, but whenever we depart for a cruise, a little splash of rum and a quarter over the side to keep the wind gods happy..

WayneH · Jan 21, 2014

Two rituals my friends observe rigorously.

Never leave port on a Friday. <- Can't remember reason before third cup of coffee.

Never let anyone watch you sail away. <- You won't return.

Mine is "Never wave goodbye." <- You'll run into a daymark!

capta · Jan 21, 2014

Way back, when I sailed SF Bay, just before sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge, I'd put my hands together as if in prayer, look up beseechingly and utter the words, "Please don't jump now, please." It seemed to work.

JonnyQuest · Jan 21, 2014

Tom G said:
Every time I launch my boat I manage to spill a little blood somehow :cry: . It's not a quite a ritual, but it always seems to happen.

A blood sacrifice...cool. Very Old School Tom!

Winkfish · Jan 21, 2014

kloudie1 said:
Not for daysailing, but whenever we depart for a cruise, a little splash of rum and a quarter over the side to keep the wind gods happy..

Why not for day sailing?

rgranger · Jan 21, 2014

I never let my wife hold my cell phone....unless I want a new one....

I've lost three this way so far.

Merlin Clark · Jan 21, 2014

Bananas and women are bad luck.
I don't know why anyone would have problems with bananas.

rpwillia · Jan 21, 2014

Keep the Key on the Handle

Stu Jackson said:
Make sure the thru hull is open before you start the engine.

That is why you store you key on the thru hull. Then you never forget to open it. ;-)

Rick Webb · Jan 21, 2014

Bananas

Bananas are deemed to be bad luck because of all of the ills suffered by the crews of banana boats from the bites of all the creepy crawlers stowed away in the cargo.

JK_Boston_Catalina310 · Jan 21, 2014

Rick Webb said:
Bananas are deemed to be bad luck because of all of the ills suffered by the crews of banana boats from the bites of all the creepy crawlers stowed away in the cargo.

Bananas are only bad luck on fishing boats. Perfectly fine for sailboats.

Stu Jackson · Jan 21, 2014

rpwillia said:
That is why you store you key on the thru hull. Then you never forget to open it. ;-)

Our ignition key is on a key ring with the dock gate key, the key to the locks to open the hatchboards and the key for the anchor locker. I prefer not to separate them.

I've heard this suggestion countless times. It's valid for some skippers, but I've only once forgotten to do that. Only once. The impeller didn't burn up either.

Just dumb luck I guess...

Bill Roosa · Jan 21, 2014

While not a ritual we seem to always Loose at least one yahtzee or backgammon die overboard though the stern walk through.

We always have a beer after docking.

Winkfish · Jan 21, 2014

Bill Roosa said:
We always have a beer after docking.

We call that a "we're here beer."

25yearslater · Jan 21, 2014

Of course dancing naked while whirling a chicken over my head and reciting "Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner" backwards might be something I would consider especially if it gets the eastern entrance to my harbor dredged. The water is getting mighty thin there.

capta · Jan 21, 2014

rpwillia said:
That is why you store you key on the thru hull. Then you never forget to open it. ;-)

That's a really good idea, thanks. Especially for us because we never close any of our sea cocks when we leave the boat, only when working on something. ME sea cock closed; key attached, great.
Thanks again.