Favorite cruising related sayings

[Kettlewell]

This has probably been done before, but here are a few cruising sayings I have repeated many times that I find to be true and useful to keep in mind:

• Red sky in morning sailors take warning, red sky at night, sailors' delight
• Go With the Flow
• You eat what the cook dishes up: Bahamian saying that you have to deal with whatever the weather gives you
• Wuwei: Chinese for the practice of taking no action that is not in accord with the natural course of the universe
• Take in the first reef when you first wonder if you should
• Never enter an unfamiliar harbor at night
• When in doubt, let out more scope
• Better to be uncomfortable in harbor than to be uncomfortably seeking harbor

[kayakerChuck]

What do we fix today?

[Cheechako]

If you're thinking of reefing, IT'S TIME TO REEF!

[leecea]

One saying that should be banned... "Seems like everything's going well today"

[Jim Cate]

Working from some experience we've altered one old saying:

Red sky in the morning, sailor take warning.

Red sky at night, sailor take warning!

Stems from the fact that such observations have different meanings in different areas of the world.

Other common ones:

The wind always blows from the bow.

He who scorns the calm has forgotten the storm.

Mackerel skies and mare's tails mean soon tall ships will wear short sails.

And if you are a serious ocean racer:

Confusion to the French!

Jim

[CaptTom]

The exceptional skipper, uses their exceptional judgement, to avoid having to use their exceptional skill.

The most dangerous thing you can have on a boat is a schedule.

[Kettlewell]

The most dangerous thing you can have on a boat is a schedule

Good one!

[dcondit]

Hold my beer

[Kd9truck]

“Your other port”
“Watch your head”
“Wait 5 min”
“Is it tea time yet!”
“I thought you said Weast “

Cheers

[Capt Clark]

From Capt Ron…. “If it’s gonna happen, it’s gonna happen out there”.

[JustMurph]

There are two kinds of boats in Moreton Bay, those that have run aground and those that are going to run aground. There are two kinds of skippers in Moreton Bay, those that have run aground and liars.

[JPA Cate]

The prudent cruising woman makes sure the ports and hatches are closed before she leaves the boat. [Little surprise rains don't give you a mess to come home to.]

Ann

[partingclouds]

What could possibly go wrong?

This is a jinx phrase. Never use it on a boat. It's worse than having bananas aboard.

[wholybee]

Cruising means fixing your boat in exotic locations.

[Kettlewell]

Why does the wind indicator always point directly from my destination?