Wenches on Winches

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Phil Herring

Phil Herring

Alien
Mar 25, 1997
4,922
- - Bainbridge Island
I'm sure you all know Brion Toss from his books, seminars, or his recent expert forum on SailboatOwners.com. He has also done a series of rigging workshops for women that have been very popular. The next one is at his home base in Port Townsend on June 18-19. A very full two days in three parts: - Wenches on Winches: We’ll disassemble a winch for maintenance, and take a good look at all the systems: cars, blocks, wire, halyards, turnbuckles, chain plates. - Basic Braided Splice and Knots: Double braid splice, core to core, butterfly knot, stopper knot and more from Brion’s Books: The Rigger’s Apprentice Working Rope – Book 1 Basic Knots Working Rope – Book 5 Basic Splicing - Going Aloft Safely: We’ll show you how to go aloft, in the right gear and with all the safety techniques. While up there - we'll do a quick survey; show you how to work with tools aloft, and, how to get them up and down, safely. We’ll cover effective communication with deck crew, and mechanical advantage rather than strength. For information call Maria Wilson at 1-360-385-1080 or visit http://www.briontoss.com
 
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Paul McGhee

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Jun 21, 2004
129
- - Westbrook, CT
Wasn't he "Mr Knot?"

I remember a "learn to sail" show on PBS from about 25 years ago, and I think Brian Toss was "Mr Knot" on that show. He gave lessons on, well, knots. I remember him tying a bowline around a piling. I FINALLY got out a rope and taught myself how to do that last year.
 
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PJ

OFFENDED!!!

I am offended at the term Wenches on Winches! Do you think we could have a little more respect and class????!!!!!!! Shame on Sailors.com for allowing it on the site.
 
Phil Herring

Phil Herring

Alien
Mar 25, 1997
4,922
- - Bainbridge Island
PJ-

I understand your point, but please don't shoot the messenger. The Brion Toss folks came up with the name for that part of their seminar, although I could have used better judgement than to use it as the subject. My apologies if it caused offense, there was certainly none intended. I suppose it struck me as funny because we see a _large_ number of unintended confusion between the two words.
 
Peggie Hall HeadMistress

Peggie Hall HeadMistress

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Dec 2, 1997
8,913
- - LIttle Rock
Oh, PJ...really!

If the topic were about hitches, you'd have something to complain about...but if you find "wench" offensive, you're on politically correct overload! At my age, I'd kill to be thought of as a "wench!"
 
Peggie Hall HeadMistress

Peggie Hall HeadMistress

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Dec 2, 1997
8,913
- - LIttle Rock
Oh, PJ...really!

If the topic were "Hitches" you'd have something to complain about...but if "wench" is offensive to you, you're on politically correct overload! At my age, I'll kill to be thought of as a "wench!" :)
 
John Nantz

John Nantz

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Jul 1, 1998
3,062
Hunter Legend 35 Poulsbo/Semiahmoo WA
No Offense Here....

Just showed the PJ post to my wife as she was getting her stuff together to race off to her knitting class... Her words "....that's ridiculous! It's not meant in a derogatory way! That's a play on words...." and some more comments that I couldn't understand as she ran off down the hall and out of earshot.
 
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ted22530

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Jun 7, 2004
28
- - St. Augustine
Wench: (noun)

Up to 1290 the word wench was defined as a "young girl or young woman". After 1290 the word had degenerated through use and was defined as a "country girl or working girl". By 1362 the word wench had degenerated further and meant "a woman of loose morals". After 1599 the noun wench had made a full circle again and its primary definition was "young woman or girl". Today the primary definition is "young woman or girl" and the secondary definition is "prostitute". To give Mr. Toss the benefit of the doubt I would think "young woman" was the intention. Using common sense, "Wenches on Winches" one can see it is a clever play on words to draw attention to the seminar. It appears to have worked. :)
 
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ian19147

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Jun 4, 2004
78
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Stout Wench

We're naming our boat "StoutWench" after my wife. Should we expect to be picketed by the femmi-nazis? Roger & Evans S/V StoutWench
 
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w0nko

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May 3, 2005
37
- - Beavercreek, OH
Superwench

Wench as "prostitute"? I'm fairly well-read, and have never run into that one; it can't be very common. Got references? I'm proud of my 14 y.o. daughter's T-shirt (so is she) which reads "Superwench!" And yes, it is too funny.
 
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Paul

w0nko read this from M W online:

Main Entry: 1wench Pronunciation: 'wench Function: noun Etymology: Middle English wenche, short for wenchel child, from Old English wencel; akin to Old High German wankOn to totter, waver and probably to Old High German winchan to stagger -- more at WINK 1 a : a young woman : GIRL b : a female servant 2 : a lewd woman : PROSTITUTE
 
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Mark

Connotation not Definition

PJ's feelings deal with the connotation not the definition which can be subservient female. It's easy to see how it can be seen as derogatory as many archaic words have become. I've been hearing the work KNUCKLEHEAD a lot lately. Where did that come from? ....never mind.... No need for name calling when someone finds something objectionable. We don't know what life experiences someone might be responding to. In my life, we sometimes use the term wench for the person (male or female) who gets the beer from the cooler. The connotation in our case is "person we need desparately who is not working fast enough." Mark
 
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Richard Bryer

Least of my worries!

If I were to name my boat "StoutWench" the least of my worries would be that I might be picketed by ANYBODY. Wrath of the wench (oops sorry- wife ) would be the real danger!!
 
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Herb Parsons

Play on Words

I'll precede this by saying I almost never swear. If someone hears me say "dammit", they know I'm upset about something. On the other hand, I love a good play on words. Our language is a constantly changing thing, and any given word can mean different things at different times. If you don't believe it, ask yourself what "the gay 90's" would mean referring to the 1890's vs the 1990's. One of our daughters was recently married (a year ago December). They got a miniature daschund shortly after they got married. Their first "mother's day" after getting the dog was this last May. My wife got our daughter a present because it was Mother's Day, and "Daschie is Saundra's 'baby'". I thought about it a bit, and asked her if that made her a grandbitch. She laughed until she cried. For those of you that MIGHT think it's rude, it's not. It's an obvious play on words. Short version - I think Wenches on Winches is a great name for a seminar. By the way, my wife introduces herself as "the boat wench" to our "sailing guests".
 
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