But I did know that it wasnt just an ordinary jib, because every time we came charging up to the stone jetty at the yacht club after a day on the water, out of control as usual, he would jump up and down in the cockpit and shout fiercely: Dont just stand there, boy! Get that bucking jib down. Which I did, every time, with great promptitude, fearful of his wrath.
Thinking about this recently made we wonder about the language other sailors use to get their sails down. I mean, you can lower the jib or you can strike it. You can douse it, drop it, take (or haul) it down (or in), and furl it.
A phrase such as Strike the mainsail! has a fine ring about it, but I fear not many present-day sailors use it. According to my trusty dictionary, to strike sail meant to lower one or more sails suddenly, as in a sharp maneuver, approach of a squall, or in token of surrender; also as a salute to a superior ship, a sovereign, etc.
On any boat Ive owned we just dropped the sail, but I have heard other skippers use the word douse. The dictionary describes douse as: To suddenly let go, strike, haul down, lower, or take in, as a sail ...
Youll notice that once again there is a hurriedness about it, a sense of urgency. There simply doesnt seem to be a sailors word for those occasions when you dont care how long it takes your wife to get the main down, those nice gentle days when youre just slipping along quietly with everything under control, and no squalls, sovereigns, or superior ships causing you anxiety.
What is needed is a sailorly word or short phrase that indicates to your crew that she can just ease the sail down slowly, gently flake it on top of the boom, tie the gaskets nicely (taking all the time in the world to get the reef knots with their sweet little ends sticking out right) and put the mainsail cover on over everything, laced up and smoothed down, before she rushes down below to pour your gin-and-tonic, start the stove, and get supper ready.
Youd think wed have a phrase for it by now, wouldnt you? But no, I cant think of one. Ease the main is already taken and means something else in any case. Theres something unsuitably suggestive about Gentle the main, while Take down the mainsail at your leisure, darling, and fold it gently is too long and sissy-like.
I simply cant imagine why no-one has come up with a suitable verb or phrase in all the years that have passed since women were allowed to crew on boats. Its high time somebody did.
Todays Thought
I am under the spell of language, which has ruled me since I was 10.
V. S. Pritchett
Tailpiece
And how would you like your hair cut, sir?
Off.
Yes, sir, but what style?
What are your prices?
Haircut $15, shave $10.
"So okay, shave it to a short back and sides."
"So okay, shave it to a short back and sides."
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