Avoiding bad luck

[Stingo]

continuing on from the Boat name thread and Fred Drift, lets hear all the superstitions and myths that you all know.

I'll start with....

When renaming your boat, you must take her out of the water, rename her, relaunch her with an appropriate speech "I hereby name this ship.....". then crack the bubbly.

Never depart on a long passage from Durban (South Africa) on a Friday.

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[Guest]

Yachting Superstitions

Thanks for starting the thread - this could be fun... I've already just posted the following on the boat-naming thread:

The boating superstition I find interesting is when eating fish on the bone, one must eat one side, remove the complete bone and then eat the remaining filet without turning it over. If you turn the fishbone over on your plate to eat the other side, the fisherman who caught the fish will capsize next trip. Like so many of these things, there may be a practical basis to it - I suspect if you turn it over, you'll more likely get a bone caught in your throat.

 

[Stingo]

Red sky in the morning - sailors warning
Red sky at night - sailors delight

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[Twister_Ken]

When renaming a boat

Leave her in the water, buy loads of champagne, invite everybody you know, drink all the champagne, go to pub afterwards. Get yard's signwriter to change the name whenever he/she can fit it in.

 

[Cornishman]

Can anybody tell me why you should never mention those furry little creatures that live down holes in warrens by name? We used to refer to them as underground pheasants!

 

[Twister_Ken]

Concerning underground pheasants

As someone who once sailed on a boat called Wight Rabbit I assume you must be talking about badgers or foxes?

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Twister_Ken on 17/02/2003 15:51 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Jacket]

Never set off on a long passage from anywhere on a Friday.

In the 19th century, the Royal Navy got so fed up with sailors believing this myth, that they built a ship called HMS Friday, found a Captain Friday to comand her, launched her on a Friday. She set off on her maiden voyage on a Friday....and naturally sank.

 

[Magic_Sailor]

Never tell SWMBO she looks good in loose fitting oilies.

Also - I can't quite remember but isn't it bad luck to whistle on board - unless there's no wind, in which case you do "whistle up the wind"

Magic

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[Stingo]

I thought you were not meant to whistle because that would "whistle up a storm" except if you are the ships cook, because if you are whistling, you can't be eating the juicy bits.

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[snowleopard]

there are the pure superstitions:
no green paint
don't mention vicars or rats

and those with a practical basis:
don't spit to windward
no women on board

could do with a few more for the 21st century:
don't sit down with the gps in your back pocket
any others?

 

[Magic_Sailor]

Don't shoot yer Albatross! Otherwise a lot of roaming ensues.

Don't take up residence in whales - the rest of the crew don't like it.



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[Guest]

It's not spit, it is "Don't piss to windward."

 

[Twister_Ken]

Don\'t hold personal conversations...

...on your mobile phone while seated on a marina dunny, unless you want advice from those merely pointing percy at the porcelain.

 

[Guest]

Website www.hull.ac.uk/php/cetag/5bseadal.htm has a list of Yorshire fishermen's superstitions - colour green forbidden on board, not changing anything once fish are being landed to avoid change in luck, and best of all, the many things SWMBO was required to do or not do in order to keep her man safe while away.

 

[Guest]

Coins under the mast

.. how many on new boats? How 'bout yours?

 

[jhr]

Red sky at night....

...Welsh holiday cottage on fire.

 

[Stingo]

Re: Coins under the mast

I have a coin under the mast

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[Guest]

Re: Coins under the mast

Have you found it's made a difference?

 

[Guest]

Re: Coins under the mast

..other than increasing your air draft?

 

[clyst]

Under ground pheasants you mean -----RABBITS!!!!!! RABBITS!!!!!!