Tag Archive
Maritime Trivia
As a licensed professional master of vessels from motor yachts to cruise ships, I've lived with the esoteric lexicon of the mariner for nearly forty years. To the uninitiated, the language of the sea might as well be Pig Latin for most casual observers. But the layperson need not feel completely left out. The origins of some common nautical terms are steeped in maritime history and little known to most modern mariners. Some terms are of historical interest, some are amusing, and some will manage to offend. But a look "behind the sextant" is probably worth the education and will dazzle your dinner partners at the next yacht club banquet. The following selections from the sailor's lexicon are offered for your edification: Starboard: the right side of a vessel. This traces its lineage all the way back to Viking ships and galleys propelled by sails and slave rowers. Ships of this era did not use conventional rudders affixed to the transom keel but employed a "sweep oar" or, literally, a "steering board" deployed from the right quarter (aft section). Starboard was derived from this since virtually all ships were constructed "right handed". Port: the left side of a vessel. Since a ship outfitted with a "steering board" on its right side could not be brought alongside a pier without risking damage to this vital maneuvering equipment, all docking was arranged to the "port" side, or city side. The starboard side was kept to seaward. Head: a vessel's toilet. Early sailing craft had notoriously poor performance to windward due to sail designs featuring square-rigged rigging that encouraged the mariner of that day to use downwind or off-the-wind routes. Thus, when a crewman needed to relieve himself, he sought out the "head" of the ship where the downwind aspect of this vantage point favored his bodily functions. Spanker:... More »
The Big Difference Between Day Boats and Liveaboards? The Customers
I do a lot of dive trips abroad, about a dozen each year. I recently enjoyed a two-week liveaboard trip in the Red Sea near southern Sudan, followed by a similar amount of time shore-based in Bali, Indonesia. In each case, my fellow divers were British, French, Belgian, German and Dutch but could have been easily interchangeable starting from day one. However, as time passed, a distinct difference became apparent. On a liveaboard, we are all in the same boat both physically and mentally. An esprit de corps soon develops because after all, nobody wants anyone else to have a bad time nor, God forbid, an accident. Everyone becomes very co-operative and sympathetic to ever other’s needs. This loyalty towards members of the group does not appear evident during day boat dives. In Bali, we were subject to some heavy surf that made it hazardous getting out to the boat each time. The dive center rigged a heavy guide line for people to grab hold of as they made their journey out to the boat so that there was no risk of being swept away, and we were guided through the shallows by attentive staff so that nobody fell over or got swept under breaking waves. Leaving the shore, we would then progress the 100 yards out along the line to the boat. For my own part, I am quite at home in the water. But several times, I experienced fellow divers who had left the beach after I did fighting their way past me in order to get on the boat first. There was an air of panic among some of the participants. I resigned myself to bobbing in the swell until the danger of anyone standing on my head to get up the boat ladder before me had passed. If I... More »
Undercurrent Online Update
Get the best diving for your $$
Satisfaction guaranteed or all your money back!