Poem . . He was just as dead . .

[Rowana]

I had occasion today to try and remember a poem that I heard some time ago.

I think it had something to do with the col regs and the end was something like . .

"He was right of course, right all along,
"But he was just as dead as if he'd been wrong.

What's the rest of it?
Where can I get a copy?

I tried Google, but that didn't help. I'm sure the combined wisdom out there will.


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[Mirelle]

"Here lies the body of Johnny O'Day
Who died Preserving His Right of Way.

He was Right, Dead Right, as he sailed along
But he's just as dead as if he'd been wrong"

quoted by Eric Hiscock in "Cruising Under Sail", Oxford University Press, 1st edn, 1950.

<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?

 

[Twister_Ken]

John O\'Day?

This is a story of John O'Day
Who died maintaining his right of way
He was right, dead right, as he sailed along
But he's just as dead as if he were wrong.


<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[Rowana]

Thanks guys.

That's quicker than google - I now have my answer in 7 minutes flat!


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[JohnRew]

I remember a jingle that was:

'If both lights you see ahead, Port your helm and show your red'

'He was right dead right, as he sailed along,
But, he's just as dead, as if he was wrong'

I'm certain that there were plenty more verses, I was just looking for the same thing and found Rowana's post.

 

[RichardS]

I remember a jingle that was:

'If both lights you see ahead, Port your helm and show your red'

'He was right dead right, as he sailed along,
But, he's just as dead, as if he was wrong'

I'm certain that there were plenty more verses, I was just looking for the same thing and found Rowana's post.

"Port your helm and show your red"?

Surely if you turn your helm to port you show your green?

Unless that's from the old days like The Titanic when everything seemed to mean the opposite?

Richard

 

[Davy_S]

Surely if you turn your helm to port you show your green?

not if you push the tiller to port

 

[Kukri]

"Port your helm and show your red"?

Surely if you turn your helm to port you show your green?

Unless that's from the old days like The Titanic when everything seemed to mean the opposite?

Richard

The verse was written by Thomas Gray (the Victorian Assistant Secretary to the Board of Trade, not the Georgian poet) in 1867. The helm orders were changed in 1931 (causing a sudden outburst of collisions!).

 

[Kukri]

Found it:

AIDS TO MEMORY.
BY THOMAS GRAY.

1. Two Steamships Meeting:

When both side lights you see ahead,
Port your helm and show your RED.

2. Two Vessels Passing:

GREEN to GREEN or RED to RED,
Perfect safety-go ahead!

3. Two Steamships Crossing:

(NOTE-This is the position of greatest danger, requiring caution and judgment.)

If to your starboard RED appear,
It is your duty to keep clear;
To act as judgment says is proper:-
To port, or starboard, back, or stop her!

But, when upon your port is seen
A steamer’s starboard light of GREEN,
There’s not so much for you to do,
For GREEN to port keeps clear of you.

4. All Ships must keep a good Lookout, and Steam-vessels stop, &c.

Both in safety and in doubt,
Always keep a good lookout.
In danger with no room to turn,
Ease her! Stop her! Go astern.


And the following may be added as a
General Rule for Sailing Vessels:
If close-hauled on the starboard tack,
No other ship can cross your track;
If on the port tack you appear,
Ships going free must all keep clear;
While you must yield, when going free,
To sail close-hauled, or on your lee.
Both free, with wind on different sides,
Rule XIV, c, your case decides,
And if you have the wind right aft,
Keep clear of every sailing craft.

 

[Uricanejack]

Who is John o day

I recall it as. Capt May who died defending his right of way

 

[GHA]

There's a lesser know annex...

Idiot. If he'd spent a little time studying the IRPCS he'd have known
There is no such thing as right of way and none of this would have happened.

 

[dom]

+1. As I understand it St Peter has a special place in his heart for those who just follow the goddamn rools

 

[RichardS]

The verse was written by Thomas Gray (the Victorian Assistant Secretary to the Board of Trade, not the Georgian poet) in 1867. The helm orders were changed in 1931 (causing a sudden outburst of collisions!).

Although I seem to recall that Titanic hit the iceberg in 1912 because of the confusion caused by the old helm orders whereby "hard to port" meant sharp turn to starboard. :ambivalence:

So it seems that they were damned when they changed the rules and damned when they didn't.

Richard

 

[lpdsn]

Although I seem to recall that Titanic hit the iceberg in 1912 because of the confusion caused by the old helm orders whereby "hard to port" meant sharp turn to starboard. :ambivalence:

No. If they had turned into the iceberg there'd likely have been a much better outcome.

 

[RichardS]

No. If they had turned into the iceberg there'd likely have been a much better outcome.

Maybe so ..... but is that relevant to "hard to port meaning sharp turn to starboard"

Richard

 

[lpdsn]

Maybe so ..... but is that relevant to "hard to port meaning sharp turn to starboard"

Richard

It's relevant to a false story of confusion on the Titanic. They turned as intended just not soon enough to avoid contact.

 

[Sybarite]

Found it:

AIDS TO MEMORY.
BY THOMAS GRAY.

1. Two Steamships Meeting:

When both side lights you see ahead,
Port your helm and show your RED.

2. Two Vessels Passing:

GREEN to GREEN or RED to RED,
Perfect safety-go ahead!

3. Two Steamships Crossing:

(NOTE-This is the position of greatest danger, requiring caution and judgment.)

If to your starboard RED appear,
It is your duty to keep clear;
To act as judgment says is proper:-
To port, or starboard, back, or stop her!

But, when upon your port is seen
A steamer’s starboard light of GREEN,
There’s not so much for you to do,
For GREEN to port keeps clear of you.

4. All Ships must keep a good Lookout, and Steam-vessels stop, &c.

Both in safety and in doubt,
Always keep a good lookout.
In danger with no room to turn,
Ease her! Stop her! Go astern.


And the following may be added as a
General Rule for Sailing Vessels:
If close-hauled on the starboard tack,
No other ship can cross your track;
If on the port tack you appear,
Ships going free must all keep clear;
While you must yield, when going free,
To sail close-hauled, or on your lee.
Both free, with wind on different sides,
Rule XIV, c, your case decides,
And if you have the wind right aft,
Keep clear of every sailing craft.

If on the port tack you appear,
Ships going free must all keep clear;

These are the old rules surely when a boat say close-hauled on port had R-O-W over a boat sailing free on starboard?

 

[JohnRew]

I've probably got it wrong, which is why I gave up sailing, and rowed, instead, easier, really, when you're going backwards. Unless you're rowing 'alla Veneziana', of course.

 

[RichardS]

I've probably got it wrong, which is why I gave up sailing, and rowed, instead, easier, really, when you're going backwards. Unless you're rowing 'alla Veneziana', of course.

Actually, you were dead right John. Your ditty is from ye olde days and "helm to port" did mean "turn to starboard".

We obviously have it easy these days.

Welcome to the forum, by the way.

Richard

 

[Uricanejack]

Found it:

AIDS TO MEMORY.
BY THOMAS GRAY.

1. Two Steamships Meeting:

When both side lights you see ahead,
Port your helm and show your RED.

2. Two Vessels Passing:

GREEN to GREEN or RED to RED,
Perfect safety-go ahead!

3. Two Steamships Crossing:

(NOTE-This is the position of greatest danger, requiring caution and judgment.)

If to your starboard RED appear,
It is your duty to keep clear;
To act as judgment says is proper:-
To port, or starboard, back, or stop her!

But, when upon your port is seen
A steamer’s starboard light of GREEN,
There’s not so much for you to do,
For GREEN to port keeps clear of you.

4. All Ships must keep a good Lookout, and Steam-vessels stop, &c.

Both in safety and in doubt,
Always keep a good lookout.
In danger with no room to turn,
Ease her! Stop her! Go astern.


And the following may be added as a
General Rule for Sailing Vessels:
If close-hauled on the starboard tack,
No other ship can cross your track;
If on the port tack you appear,
Ships going free must all keep clear;
While you must yield, when going free,
To sail close-hauled, or on your lee.
Both free, with wind on different sides,
Rule XIV, c, your case decides,
And if you have the wind right aft,
Keep clear of every sailing craft.

Nice. I think this is the first time I have seen and read the whole thing.

Capt. May and his right of way. Must be another poem