I do a lot of tall ship sailing and we still try to be as traditional as possible.

We still use 2 - 6 - heave when hauling on ropes. This comes from the gun ships and their crews. Once a gun was fired the crews would reload etc. and then men numbered 2 and 6 would receive an order to haul the gun back into its firing position. Hence 2 - 6 - heave.

Also we used to use the term 'smoko' for a tea break. This went back t o the war days when the sailors weren't allowed any lights on deck. They would go for a 'smoko' where they could get their tea and have a smoke. We aren't allowed to use this term anymore as it is deemed to encourage the youngsters sailing with us to smoke. PC gone mad!!!

Hi Jude, I agree, it's good to keep those old traditions alive. I much prefer "Lee oh" to the "Tacking NOW!" you tend to get on racing boats. And it's interesting how many old sailing sayings have become part of every day language, from "plain sailing" to "three sheets to the wind."

I must protest to your comment on racing boats - we most certainly use 'Lee ho' as well. The only more modern word that is occasionally shouted accross the deck tends to be duck.

As for tea breaks as you were saying Jude, as it is a small crew so you don't have breaks as such, you just assume that everyone will want a cup so I don't tend to bother asking.

"...you just assume that everyone will want a cup so I don't tend to bother asking."

My kind of crew :):):) - 2 sugars and milk pls Roxy.

W.

Oh darn... I have just spilt tea all over my keyboard trying to pass you the cup through the screen!

lol

Well just not good enough! You have to bring it over!

W.

All this banter over a cup of tea! Why not go for coffee instead. Thanks Jude for more of the nautical terms absorbed into everyday language. I find it fascinating just how much of this goes on without us realising it. 'By guess and by God'...Navigating by instinct, (Harry in the old days!!) Today, guessing at a solution instead of working it out.

On a slightly off topic note I found out for the first time yesterday this little language fact:

I think everyone is familiar for the word raspberry being used to describe flatulence, but it derives from cockney rhyming slang -

Raspberry = raspberry tart = fart!

Thought it was quite intellectual toilet humour.

Whilst it’s nice to pass on some of the old traditions, there’s a fine line between pretentious jargon and simple English. Personally I’m against the use of words like port and starboard for left and right, not to mention galley, berth, fore aft etc etc. It’s like learning a foreign language. In France instructions to the helmsman should no longer use the words port and starboard owing to the increased risk of misunderstanding – they insist that “gauche” and “droite” are used instead.

Maritime words are NOT pretentious language. People who resist the proper terms are a type of inverted snob...or just cannot be bothered to enter into the spirit of our great way of life. The right words and terms are entirely appropriate to ships and the sea and have been around for a long, long time.

Sounds to me like the French just being their usual 'different' selves!

As a pilot as well I wouldn't dream of not using the 'proper' terminonlogy - much of which has been carried over to flying from the maritime services.

Come and work a few trips with us David and you'd think you were on a different planet!

W.

PS I don't drink coffee Harry - unless it contains 50% alchol and 25% cream or has been offered as an invitation by a gorgeous young lady!

Well said Wolfie, and trust you to somehow work in 'the gorgeous young lady' angle!
How about a glass of Scottish Sunshine and forget the coffee?

Years of practice Harry - still looking for 'her' though!

Prefer the rum still... but not in coffee!

W.