Commands for going about.

[nigelm]

Nope , gentlemen don't sail to windward

But if forced to then its "ready about - lee ohh" for those in the cockpit and a warning of "tacking" down the hatch for who ever is putting the kettle on .....

 

[Easticks28]

There's less urgency with a gybe - assuming someone has the main under control.

Try Gybing a 'gaffer' and tell; me that!

 

[Long John Silver]

3 stages.

Ready about.
Helms a lee - start the turn.
Let go and haul (lee ho) - pull the jib across

If you're sailing with RYA trained crew, expect to get caught in irons if you shout lee ho when you actually mean helms a lee.

Helms a lee. Thats just a bit weird. Lee ho all the way.

 

[maby]

Helms a lee. Thats just a bit weird. Lee ho all the way.

I assume that it should read "Helm's a' lee" as in "Helm is at lee" - my Dayskipper teacher insisted on "Helm to lee"

 

[onesea]

That there are three stages to tacking.

Ready about - everyone in position and ready to go when answered

Helm to lee (or whatever) - the manoeuvre is actually starting!

Le Ho - that's the point (and not before) that the helm wants the crew to let go (Le) of one sheet and haul in (Ho) the other.


Is this wrong?


.

Would not say that I was just taught
"Ready about" Sheets ready,
"Leeho" Helms going to leeward,

After that the skipper watched his crew who where expected to know when to let go and pull in... If skipper has reason to change it normally "wait" "standby" or "get that f*&kin sheet in now!".

As for the the worst case instructions for tack are replacing 2 above with:

"Starboard" (normally from unseen panicked voice).
"Oh f*&k"

 

[prv]

Le Ho - that's the point (and not before) that the helm wants the crew to let go (Le) of one sheet and haul in (Ho) the other.

Why's it the helm's business to call that?

I realise that with novice crew on the headsail sheets someone more experienced may need to tell them when to let go, but it's a big step from that to making "the helmsman tells everybody how to do their jobs" part of your official procedure.

Pete

 

[lotusman]

.
When teaching I use:

'ready about'

'helm's a lee'

'lee-oh'

. . . simply because it accurately describes the three stages of the process. (or at least, it does once you explain what these strange utterances mean!)

Making it a two-stage process is (strictly speaking) an oversimplification, but when sailing with familiar crew it is whatever floats your boat and keeps heads intact.


- W

I agree strongly with this in boats where there is serious power in the sails and sheet winches must be treated with respect. In crews of mixed experience it is good to establish a routine that everyone understands before relaxing and simplifying. No harm in getting this instilled in any boat of any size.

I taught myself to sail from Swallows and Amazons and could often be heard calling ready about and lee oh to myself when single handed in a mirror dinghy in the late 1960's.

On my yachtmaster examination the three calls were completely new to one candidate and he repeatedly called 'Lees-a-helm' which prompted the comment who is Lisa Helme and is she German? In reality it didn't much matter because we all understood what needed doing without instruction.

There are times, big seas and big winds, when boat handling will benefit from even experienced well practised crews being given a coordinating call to release sheets.

 

[maby]

Why's it the helm's business to call that?

I realise that with novice crew on the headsail sheets someone more experienced may need to tell them when to let go, but it's a big step from that to making "the helmsman tells everybody how to do their jobs" part of your official procedure.

Pete

"Lee Ho" is definitely an abbreviation of "Lee Helm"

 

[nigelmercier]

Why's it the helm's business to call that?

I understood that we were discussing the instructions given when tacking, it is a totally different kettle of fish when sailing with an experienced crew:

Ready about!
What for?
What do you mean what for, we are tacking.
We don't need to tack yet, we won't make the headland if we tack now.
Perhaps not, but I'm on the helm and it's my call.
But why?
Look, can you just prepare to go about.
I don't see the reason, what ...
[5 minutes later]
... but I gave an order.
Well it was a stupid order.
Not in my opinion, ready about!
No.
If you care to look forward you will see that we are about to hit a rock.
FFS GO ABOUT!

(Based on an actual event)

 

[Lakesailor]

Does this all come from Swallows and Amazons where a 12 year-old lad was playing at big ships?

It's just more of the out-of-date and actually confusing use of old maritime language which wants binning.
As evidenced by the fact that proponents can't agree on the sequence or vocabulary.
Not surprising as not many of us sail on 3 masted barques where the crew can't even see where the helm is.

 

[theoldsalt]

I think most completely miss the point and origins of the commands (from large sailing vessels).

The commands come from the skipper who most likely was not the helmsman.

"Ready About" is an instruction to both the crew and helmsman to stand ready for tacking.

"Lee (h)O" is an instruction to the helmsman to move the helm.

"Helms Alee" is a confirmation from the helmsman that he has complied so the crew then ease sheets.

When on the correct course the skipper may then instruct the crew to "harden up" and the helmsman to "helm amidships"

Everyone was expected to follow orders not use discretion.

This has been updated and changed for use on modern yachts.

 

[maby]

Does this all come from Swallows and Amazons where a 12 year-old lad was playing at big ships?

It's just more of the out-of-date and actually confusing use of old maritime language which wants binning.
As evidenced by the fact that proponents can't agree on the sequence or vocabulary.
Not surprising as not many of us sail on 3 masted barques where the crew can't even see where the helm is.

Well, it has an existence outside Swallows and Amazons the book was just reflecting normal practice. You certainly could make an argument for bringing the language up to date, but it still needs to be concise and unambiguous.

 

[shaunksb]

Why's it the helm's business to call that?

Pete

Cos he's the one doing the manouvre and only he knows how quick a tack he's putting in and depending on the boat one guy may not be able to see the headsail and it stops the sail flogging if the old sheet is let of to early etc


.

 

[prv]

"Lee Ho" is definitely an abbreviation of "Lee Helm"

OK, but what's that got to do with whether the helmsman tells the jibsheet crew when to let go?

(ie, why is it a reply to my post?)

Pete

 

[Lakesailor]

Well, it has an existence outside Swallows and Amazons the book was just reflecting normal practice. You certainly could make an argument for bringing the language up to date, but it still needs to be concise and unambiguous.

Normal practice on large boats and (for instance) racing boats of the era where the crew were not gentlemen and paid hands for the race. Even for the 1930s a bit OTT.

I can't see how it helps modern sailors. Except to make the whole affair mysterious. When seasoned sailors on here can't agree what the commands are it makes it all a bit superfluous.

 

[BruceDanforth]

I just press both buttons on the autopilot then pull one of the green strings.

 

[prv]

Why's it the helm's business to call that?

I understood that we were discussing the instructions given when tacking

Sure, but unless the guy on the working sheet is a complete beginner, he (or she) ought to be capable of letting fly when the sail breaks without additional instructions. After all, he's devoting all his attention to letting go at the right moment, whereas the helm has other things to think about as well.

This isn't the same thing as two people used to sailing together signalling their intentions with a significant look.

Pete

 

[Flashy]

OK, but what's that got to do with whether the helmsman tells the jibsheet crew when to let go?

I had a group of students who could just never remember the nautical words so our tacks quickly became:

1. "Are you all ready?" (Ready about!)

2. "I'm turning" (Helm a'lee)

3. "Now!" (The headsail is starting to back i.e. Lee Ho!)

Clearly what you use depends on the crew and situation. Lee Ho is very useful for people who are either not switched on or in a position where they can't see the jib.

 

[maby]

Normal practice on large boats and (for instance) racing boats of the era where the crew were not gentlemen and paid hands for the race. Even for the 1930s a bit OTT.

I can't see how it helps modern sailors. Except to make the whole affair mysterious. When seasoned sailors on here can't agree what the commands are it makes it all a bit superfluous.

In the last couple of years I have heard at least two lifeboat callouts in our immediate area for Crew members seriously injured by the boom going over. There is a real need for accurate communications when going about. You can question the language, but it does need to be concise and clear.

 

[Lakesailor]

I can't see how you link a strange and ancient language to those incidents.
"Mind your heads!" would seem to be the appropriate call.

I'm a great believer in the Plain English Campaign.