Random trivia...can we make this work

[nolatom]

Right, and right. On a boat, an Irish pennant was something not squared away, or dangling, or not put away right. And the phrase I used to hear was, "Shipshape and Bristol Fashion".

Okay, one of you have to pose a question. I'm tapped out..

[Hartley18]

Sway asked "What is precession of the equinoxes?"

I have no idea. (Reminder to self: must buy a sextant one day)

[Boasun]

This is in reference to the Vernal Equinox that is creeping eastward at about 50" of arc each year.

Sail/Auxiliary Q:
Your 80 ton schooner is hove to on the starboard tack under storm trysail and the fore staysail in 45 knots of wind. Your heading is averaging about 000 true and the wind is from the Northeast. There is a dangerous shoal bearing 270 true, range 5 miles. Which action would be appropriate?
A. You need only stay alert for changes, as your present drift will carry you away from the danger.
B. You should strike all sails and get underway under bare poles, making as much way as possible to the north.
C. You should set a reefed foresail and strike the jib.
D. You should tack or jibe to the port tack and make all possible haeadway to the south.

Go for it Guys & Gals.... and come back with a triva question if you get the correct answer.

[Plumper]

A couple key pieces of information are missing. Is the boat making any way and if so, in what direction? How long is the storm predicted to last (is the glass rising or falling)? Where is the boat bound? If it is going north then I would choose A and watch my offing on the reef closely. If I was going south I would choose D. Either A or D would be appropriate if heading east or west.

[nolatom]

I'd say D, since port tack will carry you away from the shoal, even if you can't point higher than south (but southeast would be better).

A only works if I'm making headway. If hove-to, maybe I'm not.

B is stupid, unless I have an engine. Do I? Even if I do, striking all sails will give a horrible unsteadied ride.

c--Strike what jib? I 've got a staysail up already.

So I'd get onto the tack that tends to set me away from the shoal rather than towards it.

It's too easy to overthink an answer when they don't give you enough info in the question.


Okay, whether I was right or wrong, since it's May 1st, and easy one..

What's the origin of the distress call "Mayday"?

[Plumper]

M'aidez! Help me in French.


Which is the preferred end of the start line in a yacht race?

[nolatom]

If the line's perfectly square to the wind, neither end is favored. Starboard or committee boat end might be preferred if you expect the wind to shift clockwise, and want to be able to tack early.

Otherwise, whichever end is "closer" to the wind. Head straight upwind on the line, and whichever end your bow points more toward is the favored end.

An old one. What's "Sallying ship"?

[Plumper]

Sallying ship was when the crew would all line up on one side and then run across to the other side to rock the ship. I don't remember why they did it though.

[nolatom]

Right you are.

It was either to get off ground, or to get out of the ice.

I know I've used a "half-sally" by putting all crew on one side to slide off the mud. I just didn't know what it was called.

Now you have the grave responsibility of posing a new question (and we could then use some new contributors answering and giving us a new question? Don't be shy)

[Idiens]

Sallying ship in harbour was used to check its loaded roll stability. The famous case where they broke off the test in panic was the Vasa. It sank in Stockholm harbour a bit later. Too much top weight.