Sailing Rituals

[SailAwayGirl]

Hi all,

I recently saw a post on Facebook of interesting rituals that folks have while out cruising. Some were quite interesting such as:

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"We each have a necklace that we wear when underway. His is a nautical style pendant his brother gave him, and mine is a pendant made of copper wire and amber-colored stones that form the roots and branches of a tree. We like to think of them as connections to land and sea...and tend to get a little superstitious about them at times."

and​

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"It is a rule on our boat to never discuss or call the Bermuda Triangle by name when we are IN the Bermuda Triangle."

I found this so interesting. Would anyone else care to share their rituals for sailing?

Thanks,
Sail Away Girl
http://www.sailawaygirl.com

 

[Winkfish]

Would anyone else care to share their rituals for sailing?

Thanks,
Sail Away Girl
http://www.sailawaygirl.com

When some college buddies and I used to sail and race quite often, if the wind was light, or non-existent, we would throw a few coins into the water (always saving enough for more beer after the race) and chant:

Wind God, Wind God, bo bind god
banana fanna fo find god
fee fi mo mind god
Wind God

Sometimes it worked. If it didn't, we just drank more beer.

 

[Brian S]

Every time I see one of my boats on the land, I generally pat her side and tell her I love her, if the tarp isn't covering the hull where I can get to her. Kissing ablative bottom paint is not advised...

 

[py26129]

Any beer can I carry onboard will only be taken off the boat empty.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Make sure the thru hull is open before you start the engine.

 

[25yearslater]

Never say anything that invites the opposite, such as, don't fall overboard. Guaranteed somebody is headed for the drink. That and turn on the battery and take a good sniff of the engine room.

 

[higgs]

I used to offer a sip of beer to thank the sea gods for safe passage when entering a new harbor. I quite doing that when I moved to Lake Ontario since open liquor on a moving boat is illegal.

 

[Winkfish]

and take a good sniff of the engine room.

Reminds me of when we first got our fishing boat (with a good ole 2-stroke) in 2006 when my son was 5. We went fishing one day, and I saw him bending over the stern. I asked him if he was feeling sick, and he said, "No, I just like the smell of the motor." He's a boater, for sure.

 

[Tom G P-21]

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.

 

[topcat0399]

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.

Face it - its a ritual.


We whistle a lot when becalmed.

 

[Dan Hill]

My ritual starts on Friday afternoon. Sail....Eat....Sleep....Repeat!

 

[capta]

I will never again whistle for the wind; 3 times becalmed in the Pacific, I did, and twice we got full gales and the third time we got a hurricane. Never, ever, again.

 

[Merlin Clark]

Never leave the dock without too much beer.

 

[nolasafari]

I never piss into the wind.

 

[SailAwayGirl]

Rituals

When some college buddies and I used to sail and race quite often, if the wind was light, or non-existent, we would throw a few coins into the water (always saving enough for more beer after the race) and chant:

Wind God, Wind God, bo bind god
banana fanna fo find god
fee fi mo mind god
Wind God

Sometimes it worked. If it didn't, we just drank more beer.

Love it!

 

[SailAwayGirl]

Rituals

Every time I see one of my boats on the land, I generally pat her side and tell her I love her, if the tarp isn't covering the hull where I can get to her. Kissing ablative bottom paint is not advised...

Very nice.

 

[SailAwayGirl]

Rituals

Any beer can I carry onboard will only be taken off the boat empty.

I agree!

 

[SailAwayGirl]

Rituals

Make sure the thru hull is open before you start the engine.

Sounds like an unfortunate personal experience. Thanks for sharing!

 

[SailAwayGirl]

Rituals

Never say anything that invites the opposite, such as, don't fall overboard. Guaranteed somebody is headed for the drink. That and turn on the battery and take a good sniff of the engine room.

Great Tips!

 

[SailAwayGirl]

Rituals

I used to offer a sip of beer to thank the sea gods for safe passage when entering a new harbor. I quite doing that when I moved to Lake Ontario since open liquor on a moving boat is illegal.

Wow no open bottles, yikes! Thank you for sharing!
Sail Away Girl