Commands for going about.

Just come back on today to find there are now 15 pages of, effectively, 'I'm right and you're all doing it wrong' from every which viewpoint! Amazing!

When I first started sailing, I hadn't a clue so went to the best bookshop I could find and bought 'Beginners Book of Sailing' by Gunther Grell, translated from the German, a simplistic paperback (75p - we'd just gone decimal). Recently, with the prospect of doing some more, I purchased Steve Sleight's 'New Complete sailing Manual'.

I in no way claim that either of these is 'an authority' but both, published 37 years apart, advocate the 'Ready about?' - 'Lee-oh!' routine. My first sail was with an experienced crew, back in the early 70s, so I was relieved, and had my confidence boosted, by them using the same commands.
 
Lakesailor said:
Yes, I thought that's were you were heading.
How pompous. How utterly conceited.

I learned to sail on the Humber in an old gaffer with an ex RN commander. Never heard any of this maritime language.

We don't get big waves, but wind. I can give you all sorts of wind. For the last two days the RYA instructors boats (30' boats) have been fully reefed down
Tacking. I probably tack more in half a day than coastal skippers tack in a month.

On balance, it's unlikely (definite) we'll ever sail on the same boat so I can't see your problem. I'll sail with my friends, speak English, and we'll understand each other and you will passing on your instructions to your crew by speaking in tongues, and they will probably understand.

That's fine. But it's not for me.
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and always a lee shore somewhere on a lake.
 
MoodyNick said:
Sailing with different people, one hears different commends.

I was brought up with "Ready about ..... Lee O"

I have heard "Helm's alee" several times

On Sunday a newly qualified day skipper said " wheel's to windward" which the was a new one.

What's the norm, if there is one?
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On going on a small racing boat to replace the usual helm in light shifty winds I saw a wind shift coming and just said "tacking" as I pushed the tiller. After the other 3 had done the necessary one said "Bloody hell - we usually have a five minute discussion about when to tack". They got more enthusiastic about the new system when they came 2nd instead of last but one as usual.

All this ready about stuff is useful though if it's to be a dummy tack. You only usually get away with it once though.
 
Good enough for him - good enough for me

From Cruising Under Sail by Eric C. Hiscock:

"Warn your crew by the words 'ready about', then with the cry 'lee oh' put the helm down gently and she will start to round up, etc."
 
That's like saying "My grandma always used to say"

Just because an old duffer says it's the correct way does not make it so.

Yes I have his books and know his credentials.
 
I just completed a Yachtmaster prep week, after sailing for near on 30 years. Day one, and I found myself lectured on the correct timing and instructions for going about. I wasn't impressed at the time, but on reflection took something from the exercise!

Previously I have always used "Ready about", waited for a reply of 'ready' from the crew (or 'hang on I just want to finsh this page of my book') and then "Lea ho" as I put the helm over. I have always briefed anybody sailing with me to release the Genny sheets as the bow comes through the wind and left them with the responsibility of putting this into practice.

Turns out (as posters above have suggested) the official line is that I was wrong on several counts. No problem with the "Read about" shout. However I should be saying "Helm to lea" as I put the helm over, and then "Lea ho" as the bows come through the wind and I want the Genny sheet to be released (and the new working sheet to be brought in).

Also turns out I'm not supposed to be shouting "c'mon get that f###ing sheet in we haven't got all day" either, and that laughing at the crew is generally frowned upon by RYA examiners. I clearly have a lot more to learn!
 
Lakesailor said:
That's like saying "My grandma always used to say"

Just because an old duffer says it's the correct way does not make it so.

[/I]
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Can you have an old duffer?

Thought it was better if duffers drowned before growing old

To put it another way, perhaps if they are old, they have survived and are worth listening to?
 
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This place does have a certain reputation for procrastination and this post has now proved it beyond reasonable doubt.

I. Language is only useful for comunication. As long as ALL the people involved understand, then it does not matter if the command is prepare to Sh$t. Once you have a situation when people do not understand, then it can become very dangerous. Any quallified ( or not) yacht skipper should know this.

2. Language has grown up through usage. If it is acceptable, then it can be used. It does not need to be changed, just because somebody finds it archaic

3. Under no circumstances can boats be run as committee. There must be a captain. This can change at any time, if so wished but 1 person must be in charge.
I dosn't matter if your lake is smooth. There might come a time, when an immediate response can save lives and a fluffy 'sorry did not understand what you meant' could kill.

4. By all means change language but only if you can improve on the accepted version. Do not try to change for the sake of change.
 
JohnMilsom said:
Turns out (as posters above have suggested) the official line is that I was wrong on several counts. No problem with the "Read about" shout. However I should be saying "Helm to lea" as I put the helm over, and then "Lea ho" as the bows come through the wind and I want the Genny sheet to be released (and the new working sheet to be brought in).
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From some other posts, and my memory, it would seem that the official line has changed. So if you learned a while ago, you can hardly be blamed for using the older approach.

Calling something contrary to the RYA textbook "wrong" piques me a bit too (though I realise you probably meant it as shorthand for "wrong in the context of the RYA textbook"). The RYA are quite entitled to have and teach their own procedures, and to insist on them in their courses and exams if they want to, but they don't have some overarching power to declare what is right and wrong in the world of sailing in general.

I still have a beef with the assumption that the helmsman is in charge. I often put a less experienced crew on the helm, as it's easier than trying to teach them on the fly how to do every other job on board. Having them tell me when to let go the headsail sheets would be ludicrous. (We've already seen examples of when it does make sense for the helmsman to call this, we don't need to see them again.)

Pete
 
Digbydog said:
By all means change language but only if you can improve on the accepted version. Do not try to change for the sake of change.
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I still can't understand what you are all on about.
If I were to change my language it would be to the AmDram version of the "Ready Abouts" etc.

I've never used that language.

What you do on your own boats is up to you.
 
Lakesailor said:
What you do on your own boats is up to you.
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let's look for common ground:

I think we are all agreed on Lakesailors point about what we do on our own boats

And we all go sailing with the intention of enjoying it, in our own way, in safety

We all believe in effective communication appropriate to our style of sailing

Some of us believe that traditional language is an aid to communication (I am in this camp)

Some of us believe traditional language is a hindrance to good communication (I think it is a hindrance if it hasn't first been explained in plain language)

Some of us derive enhanced enjoyment from an understanding of tradition and heritage (I am in this camp)

Some of us dismiss tradition as being of no use and I have the impression that the existence of our heritage actually spoils any pleasure they derive from sailing

Why do some insist there is only one way?
 
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webcraft said:
.
When teaching I use:

'ready about'

'helm's a lee'

'lee-oh'

. . .
- W
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Apologies if this has been said already, but this quote captures the "problem". Some people are being taught a three stage process, where the command "lee-oh" means "let go the sheets". Others, including me were taught (I think - it was a long time ago!) that "lee-oh" means I am putting the helm over. Whatever the rights and wrongs of either it does cause confusion when a helm who says the latter meets a crew who understands the former. We found this sailing a Swan 44 with a scratch crew in the RTIR a few years ago. Therefore as many have said the most important thing is that all involved have a common understanding of whatever words are used.

I now see it has been said already!
 
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MoodyNick said:
I can understand your reaction - from what I hear from wee Jim and young Para, you are not normally in command of your vessel anyway. :)
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No - I usually grab the opportunity to kip - its just that sometimes I may have to change bunks and I do find that tiresome so a bit of a debate is always welcome. Nobody listens to me anyway.....

You mention Young Para - Nickolodeon - what age does that put you at?
 
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