Re: Ropes, Lines and Nautical Terminology


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Posted by The Murrelets on November 12, 1998 at 19:07:50:

In Reply to: Re: Ropes, Lines and Nautical Terminology posted by Terence McManus on November 12, 1998 at 03:04:51:

One certainly has to allow for the education of new crew aboard, I agree. I just wouldn't want to be working in extreme circumstances with a crew member who had to be directed by use of non-specific terminology! The contemplation conjures up images of instant disaster.

Curious you should mention "boat" versus "yacht". I too have seen older tradionalists become apoplectic when pleasure vessels were referred to as "boats". AR comfortably uses both terms...we are reading CC just now, and note that "Flash" and her racing fleet are referred to as "yachts" and also as "little racing boats". The D's, on the way down the river to "Teasel", are on the lookout for both "boats" AND "yachts". And then, "They came in sight of her at last and did not know her, a neat, white yacht, moored against the bank,...". Later, when Tom is receiving the Admiral's invitation to skipper her, he says, "The "Teasel's" a splendid boat."

This seems exactly consistent with the current useage Terence refers to, where dinghies are usually "boats", and larger MODEST pleasure craft, cruising or racing,are EITHER "yachts" OR "boats". The magnificent, hugely expensive yachts of the very rich are definitively "yachts", where the term implies "beyond most folks pocketbooks". Small working vessels, then and now, are clearly "boats". AR's useage of "boat" and "yacht", as with most nautical detail in the books, does not grate on the nautical sensibilities in the slightest.

Returning to the original thread (?), we are also reading "WDMTGTS" at the moment, and it is in the opening pages that "ropes" caught us up. Jim shouts to John, "Can you catch a rope and make it fast to that buoy?" And "rope" it remains throughout this passage. Perhaps fair enough, given that Jim did not know if the Swallows were seamen or not at this point in the story. But the references continue..."All those ropes on the cockpit floor (?) to be coiled." (best we don't get into "cockpit floor", perhaps!) And, later, as John was "learning the ropes", he "...was looking up at the mast,...,and reminding himself what each block was for and where its rope went. There were more ropes in the "Goblin" than in any little boat he had ever sailed,..."

Here is where we began to question the usage of "rope". But it is interesting to note at the same time that we don't have any trouble with "learning the ropes", which is obviously a very old nautical useage that has now passed into the language as an expression for learning the details of ANYTHING. (Most speakers would not even be aware of the nautical background.) The point is, we wonder if the current convention of referring to working "string" (sic) on a boat, or yacht, as "line" is fairly recent. If so, we would concede to AR's nautical correctness at the time and to our now being out of step by virtue of the change in useage since the '30s. Certainly both the terms "line" and "rope" are very old; I think we are talking about conventions at particular times.

BTW, reference Terence' observations on helm commands, we benighted North Americans also use "lee-oh", also "helm's down" and "TACKING!!!!" and "DO IT!!!" as the executive 'command'. On the gybe (jibe), similarly, "gybe -oh" is the normal executive. With respect, however, I would suggest that on both sides of the Atlantic "by the lee" is NOT a command or executive, but rather the name for a potentially extemely dangerous point of sail, which in strong winds risks an unintentional gybe (jibe) that can easily inflict serious injury to rig and/or crew. Caution suggests we all avoid being caught "by the lee".

SAAFE. The Murrelets.


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