Sailing Superstitions

[VO5]

If a woman wearing an apron is seen, no sailing, until a black cat is seen.

The R word is not allowed, they may be called Bunnies or Little Underground Racehorses, that's OK.

Whistling ? No, forbidden also. Whistling kettles yes.

A woman wearing hair curlers is a portent of a real howler developing at sea, bad omen. Another black cat (not the same one) needs to appear, honest.

When the wind is in the North,
The Careful Sailor saileth he not forth,

When the wind is in the East,
Tis neither fit for man nor beast.

When the wind is in the South,
Blows he the bait into the fishes mouth.

And...
When the wind is in the West,
Then its at its very best.

(Imparted to me by our Yeoman, who was a Cornishman )

 

[Humblebee]

Red fish

Does this only apply to salt water? A high proportion of the big, on the wall, "trophy" salmon you see displayed were caught by women. Rumoured to be something to do with pheromones...

I take it you mean the "trophy red fish..." The larger, migratory cousin of the trout, referred to above, is not to be named on board!

 

[VO5]

I take it you mean the "trophy red fish..." The larger, migratory cousin of the trout, referred to above, is not to be named on board!

And what about Mermaids, are they permitted ?

 

[VO5]

I take it you mean the "trophy red fish..." The larger, migratory cousin of the trout, referred to above, is not to be named on board!

What about Mermaids, are they permitted ?

 

[Kilter]

What about Mermaids, are they permitted ?

Yes but not in duplicate!

 

[Cliveshep]

Wife and I went out with a Pilot cutter once to drop off a pilot on a cargo ship in Lyme Bay. Cox was well upset when he realised I was bringing the little lady, insisted it was bad luck.

If it was, the Pilot took it with him when he boarded the ship 'cos coming into the harbour it rammed the pier!

 

[VO5]

 

[Amulet]

Of course I'm not superstitious

An American scientist once visited the offices of the great Nobel prize winning physicist, Niels Bohr, in Copenhagen. He was amazed to find that over Bohr’s desk was a horseshoe, securely nailed to the wall, with the open end up in the approved manner (so it would catch the good luck and not let it spill out).

The American said with a nervous laugh, “Surely you don’t believe the horseshoe will bring you good luck, do you, Professor Bohr? After all, as a scientist –”
Bohr chuckled.
“I believe no such thing, my good friend. Not at all. I am scarcely likely to believe in such foolish nonsense. However, I am told that a horseshoe will bring you good luck whether you believe in it or not.”

 

[mcframe]

Never have on your boat someone who is supersticious

I'm a Libra - we're skeptical of all that superstitious nonsense.

 

[dt4134]

I'm a Libra - we're skeptical of all that superstitious nonsense.

Being superstitious brings bad luck.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Never sail under ladders

 

[oldharry]

You must never say the "R" word. "Bunnies" is ok, but don't ask me why rabbits are unlucky.

Brittany ferries 'Bretagne' going out to St Malo some years ago - I needed a set of Duracell batteries. Not sold on board as the Breton crew members objected to the Duracell Rabbit logo and refused to sail with it on board.

 

[rudolph_hart]

The colour green is meant to be unlucky on board, but presumably starboard nav lights must be exempt

 

[fisherman]

Never go to sea on a day with a 'd' in it. Works for me.

 

[Woodlouse]

Never go to sea on a day with a 'd' in it. Works for me.

You work by night then I take it?

 

[Seanick]

The colour green is meant to be unlucky on board, but presumably starboard nav lights must be exempt

The whole 'don't paint you boat green', or 'grreen is bad luck stems from.......I understand.......Early green paint contained Arsenic. (I am prepared to be corrected),
so after a boat was painted and went to sea, a few of the crew may have a little green paint under the fingernails, leading, possibly, to miss judgement and a parking of the vessel on the rocks or otherwise!

 

[TamarMike]

Not traditional but I always have this feeling that motoring with the sail cover on is tempting the engine to misbehave.

 

[clouty]

Captain Aubrey and his crew, when becalmed, would whistle with a will, and scratch backstays to encourage the breeze.

I too also would whistle, when the wind failed.

White handled knives, parsons, as above, and women (darn!) are unlucky.

I've made up my own superstitions, when it suited, to console or retrain people.

Did you know that if you get a bay leaf on your plate, you can have a wish?