Random trivia...can we make this work

[nolatom]

Boasun,

Your answer, though not what I was thinking of initally, is close enough for me, even if Springsteen (who hadn't been born then anyway) was from Jersey not Va/Del capes.

So I guess you're up for next question...

[Boasun]

Okay moving on:
What is a breeches buoy and what is it used for???

[Plumper]

It is a device used for transferring people between two ships underway. It supports the person while he is run across on a jackstay between the ships.

[Boasun]

Close enough, but it was mainly used to transfer people from a ship that has grounded and breaking up. The Life Saving Socialities used a K gun to send the messenger line out to the ship. The crew hauled in on that messenger and when they got the Jackline they secured it to a high point on the ship and then hauled the Breeches buoy out to the ship and put a survivor in it and the people on shore would haul them to safety. Used mainly before they had high power driven rescue boats.

And your question is??

[Plumper]

When discussimg booms and bowsprits, what is the steeve (sometimes spelled stive)?

[Boasun]

Steeve is the angle of your bowsprit. A Highly steeved bowsprit is **** up very high toward the vertical.
You looked hard for that one

Along similar lines; What are stirrups on a sailing vessel???

[nolatom]

Are they a mast-climbing device?

[sailaway21]

Stirrups support the foot ropes in between their attachment points under they yardarm and keep the foot rope from sagging under a man's weight.

What internationally recognized signal is 100 years old today?

[nolatom]

I'll guess it's "S O S", which gradually replaced "C Q D" around that time. The Titanic, 4 years after 1908, sent both.

In case this guess is right, a navigtion acronym:


What's "SBDR" and why should we be concerned about it?

[Plumper]

Steady Bearing Decreasing Range

What you should do is explained in great detail in the Colregs.


What is the "Bower" anchor?