sailing related words

[Guest]

I am compiling a list of sailing related words that are in common usage in everyday English (Room to swing a cat, swinging the lead, touch and go etc).
What sayings or words do you know? I would appreciate your input so if you have any please post and give explanation.

Jaxon

 

[DanTribe]

This should be plain sailing, once we've got our bearings.With a firm hand on the helm I'm sure others will folow in your wake.You may have to sail close to the windand find yourself hard pressed, but if you keep a weather eye open,and don't swing the lead and avoid getting stranded,by and large, you should make safe haven.
I like the cut of your jib.
Dan

 

[DanTribe]

Hi
Not much response to this post.I'm taken aback because once you start to spin a yarn it's money for old rope. I thought that this thread would be chock-a-block.
Dan

 

[Bergman]

Should be on the carpet for a balls up like that even if it is cold enough to freeze the balls of a brass monkey.

 

[oldharry]

Well I'm off for a square meal now, and there should be no hitch in that as it runs fair, but watch out for squalls unless you have a fair wind.

 

[tonyleigh]

posh (port outer starboard home)

 

[bedouin]

Tut, tut, tut - that should be 'Plane Sailing' shouldn't it

 

[Twister_Ken]

Can't really salvage anything for you on this - afraid I'm on my beam ends, so there'll be the devil to pay at the bitter end especially if I'm brought up all standing or even taken aback.

 

[steve_l]

Maybe someone has beaten you to it.
Check out this link...

http://users.aol.com/MUMBLESAIL/jargon.html

Far too much to copy here.

-steve-

 

[Guest]

Patrick O'Brian's novels about the British navy in Nelson's era are a great source of sea-going words that have entered the language. And they're very good. Your only problem is that there are 20 of them, so set aside a year or so to read them. The positive side to this is that you should enjoy them.

The series starts with Master and Commander, then Post Captain, HMS Surprise, The Mauritius Command, etc, etc, etc until you reach The Yellow Admiral, The Hundred Days and Blue at the Mizzen. O'Brian was over 80 at this stage and would undoubtedly have written more, but he died in the meantime.

Strongly recommended, but they may take over your life.