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Old 02-09-2004
locrian13 locrian13 is offline
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terminology question

When heading into the wind, is it correct for the helmsman to say "helm''s a-weather", as the boat is turning into the wind, or "helm''s a-lee" as the tiller is moving to the lee side? Obviously with a wheel one is not turning the wheel to the lee when one is heading to wind, but my dear brother (who is not a sailor) insists that the terminology is grounded in the tiller-steered tradition (and he argues that one would in fact say "helm''s a lee" when turning into the wind even when steering with a wheel).

Many thanks for your help in clearing this up.
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