correct nautical verb??

[Ric]

Could anybody remind me of the correct verb for describing the process of letting a halyard slip around a winch with one hand over it in order to (say) lower somebody from the masthead?

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[Evadne]

To surge.

Or in my case, usually, to tie in a "riding turn" knot.


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[john_morris_uk]

Interesting question and I suspect there will be lots of thoughts. There are lots of different words and terms in boating and its a foolish person who claims that their usage is the only 'correct' one.

I usually ask the person to 'ease' the halyard slowly, whilst keeping it under control round the winch.

One can talk about 'surging' lines (usually when coming alongside - the process of taking way off a vessel by using the friction of a line round a bitt/bollard or cleat.) I suppose you could use the term in the halyard context - but it doesn't quite ring true to me. I will watch to see what others think! In the process of typing this I see that surge has also been suggested by another...

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by john_morris_uk on 27/02/2004 09:12 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Evadne]

I would use "surge" when describing easing or veering a rope using friction as a brake. There is a thread today (on Scuttlebutt) asking about nautical dictionaries, with several links suggested. It would be interesting to see what they say but I really ought to get back to work now.


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[bigmart]

I have known several people who insist that the correct term would be to "check" the Halyard away. I don't think that, within reason, it matters what the correct term is provided that the crew understand what is expected of them when the term is used.

Martin

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[ianwright]

Whichever word you choose, mind you do it handsomely..

IanW

<hr width=100% size=1>Vertue 203, Patience

 

[john_morris_uk]

Check away is a term used in the Royal Navy when instructing someone to ease a line. Not sure that its the correct term for surging a line round a winch on a yacht. If anyone is very keen/interested I will check with the Seaman spec's (as in specialisation) at work. However don't think that for one pico second I am suggesting that just because the RN calls it something its the right thing for everyone else to do. In yachting I'd rather go along with 'so long as the crew understand...

In the RN the command 'check check check' is the command to cease fire.

The command to assume the position in which you preserve your spine when there is an explosion from mine/missile etc is brace brace brace. On a Dutch ship the phrase (in dutch) sounds like 'Dekka Dekka Dekka' which I understand is also the slang in Dutch for 'to copulate enthusiastically'. Make of this what you will...

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[Gunfleet]

Now we\'ve established that

John, what's the Dutch for 'to copulate unenthusiastically'?

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[willothewisp]

It may sound like "Dekka" to you but the phrase is "dekken", which means to duck, or seek cover!.
Of course, "dekken"is also what's done by stallions and boars.....
Coby

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[jimi]

Sure you're not getting confused with "Dick in"?

<hr width=100% size=1>.. whit way roon should it be again ..

 

[john_morris_uk]

Dekken it is then - I only tried to write down what I hear over the main broadcast.... And it was a Dutch colleague on board who was explaining to me why the dutch sailors sometimes smirk when the command is made... so perhaps I should apologise for lowering the tone. Not much to do with surging anyway or perhaps I shouldn't go there?

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[johna]

See the recent post on Scuttlebutt -Top Climber the verb is to ease

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