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Nautical Superstitions

Where do today's yachtsmen fit into the annuls of traditions and superstitions, many of these dating back before the time of Christ. Is the romance and allure of the sea just as strong on yachts as it was in the days of wooden ships? Some of the traditions and superstitions were started for safety's sake, some traditions are merely that, superstitions. Do these superstitions and traditions hold as much attention in the yacht charter business as in times past? Unfortunately for all sailors, who are the most superstitious people on earth, most of these traditions go back further than history has recorded, their origins being lost to us forever.

In the days of sail a silver coin was placed under the mast, to buy the wind. In today's world of yachts the coin is often placed under an engine mount. Is that coin still buying wind?

All sailors have looked at a red sky at night, knowing it's a delight. Beware though, a red sky in the morning is a sailors warning. Do yacht charters' customers look at a sunset or sunrise with as much respect as the sailors of old?

Whistle in the wheelhouse, whistle up a storm. Bells ringing on a ship portend sudden death. How many owners now walk around their yacht whistling their favorite tune, and how many yachts have bells on board, ringing as the yacht pitches and yaws?

There is the saying, "what the sea wants, the sea will have". Along with that saying there is, "what belongs to the sea must return to the sea." Many a sailor were left adrift for fear of retribution for bringing them back aboard after they had fallen over, the crew wondering if the unlucky sailor had maybe been wearing clothes dyed from sea plants or maybe the captain was unlucky enough to have ballast stones taken from the sea, not land. Do the yachts of today, with mementos from the Titanic, take such dire traditions to heart or do they trample them under bare feet?

Speaking of unlucky, there is the oldest recorded tradition of all Jonah's. Most sailors today simply refuse to sail with a "Jonah", a far better practice than in times past where the "Jonah" simply ended up over the side. Unfortunately for sailors aboard a yacht today, there is no choice as to whether or not they will sail with a "Jonah".

Many ships have sailed without paying for cargo, going down as a result, you'll be told because the sea does not like debtors. Another quality the sea despises is braggarts. Do yacht charters have to worry about people who do not pay, will the chartered yacht go down in a squall? What about the yachts, getting bigger and bigger, will the braggarts finally receive their just due from Neptune?

Earrings were once worn to improve eyesight, the sailor believing the eyesight would improve in the opposite eye of the piercing, hence both ears pierced. Ears are now pierced by shell backs and for good health. Has anything changed?

Tattoos have always had a place at sea. A sailor might inscribe HOLD FAST beneath the skin of his knuckles for safety's sake. Another might tattoo a pig on one foot with a rooster on the other. A sailor with a rooster and pig would not have to worry about drowning as the two animals despise water. Do tattoos still have a place in the yacht charter business of today?

Do these things have place in the yacht charter business of today? My answer is yes, as these traditions date from before any yacht or charter business was ever built or formed.

Learn more about this author, Nick Erickson.
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