Posted by Jonathan Labaree on November 11, 2004 at 20:01:00 from 207.5.234.19 user JLabaree.
In Reply to: One is scandalised, to say the least! (was Re: 'Bent on') posted by Andrew Craig-Bennett on November 11, 2004 at 09:33:12:
Am I playing the overly polite American if, for the benefit of Peter H and others, I point out that Andrew has indulged in a pun here? The non-nautically inclined might not realize that "scandalize" means to reduce sail quickly by dropping the peak of a gaff, thereby greatly reducing the size of the sail - not only reducing the size but lowering the center of effort, both advantageous when a squall suddenly appears. I suppose the term also applies to dropping the peak of similar rigs such as a spritsail.