"Captain" and "Skipper" as honorifics

[Jammer]

My background, prior to my involvement in sailing, has been in environments where the use of honorifics (Mr., Mrs., sir., Dr., Prof., etc) is actively discouraged both in writing and in speech.


I certainly don't think that being master of my modest little craft entitles me to any sort of special social standing or linguistic treatment, and so I don't encourage anyone to address me as "captain" or "skipper." If someone addresses me in such a form, I tend to be skeptical of their motives and sincerity.


Do you encourage or discourage people from addressing you as "captain" or "skipper"? Do you use these forms of address when interacting with the masters of other boats? Why?

[Peregrine1983]

Originally Posted by Jammer

If someone addresses me in such a form, I tend to be skeptical of their motives and sincerity.

Hah. Me too.

When I hail a commercial ship I call those people "Cap" or "Captain."

Me? "Captain" of my little plastic boat? Even if I have a license it still feels insincere.

[Tayana42]

My wife just calls me, “Popeye.” Not sure if that is an honorific or not.

[thomm225]

You may want to get used to it because you're going to be called Captain quite a bit being the operator of a sailboat whether you have earned the title or not.

Even the Coast Guard when assisting vessels in distress refers to the Skipper, Driver, or operator of the vessel as Captain.... at least while assisting on the radio

[john61ct]

Yes not just an empty honorific, but a function, a job description.

Like Daddy, may imply respect or obedience, but really the main meaning is the tremendous responsibility the position entails.

Which of course many abdicate and abjectly fail at fulfilling.

[Paul Elliott]

Some of my crew call me "skipper". I would not be comfortable with "captain", since I don't have a captain's license (I would like to, but can't pass the color-vision test), but I figure "skipper" is OK.

[petermjdavies]

"Hey you" is more what I get.

[Davidhoy]

I'm with you, don't care much for titles. However, my wife will always be the "Admiral" ;-)

[Mike OReilly]

I always find it pretty goofy when I hear it applied to small boat operators like ours. And luckily it rarely happens where I cruise. When it is used it is b/c the person don’t know your name.

It’s not really an “honorific.” It’s more like “I don’t know your name…"

[Bill Seal]

A million years ago I was USCG stationed in New Orleans, down in bayou country all shrimpers were "Cap" and Coasties were "Chief" usually spoken in "Yat" as in "Where y'at Cap" (whazzup). A bit of a culture shock for a SoCal kid.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Peregrine1983

Hah. Me too.

When I hail a commercial ship I call those people "Cap" or "Captain."

Me? "Captain" of my little plastic boat? Even if I have a license it still feels insincere.

I just call everyone Sir..

[Seighlor]

Though I have a document certifying my competency as a 100-ton master, I've never been comfortable when addressed as "captain". On the other hand, when crew members address me as "skipper", I welcome that as a sign of their respect in my competency.

[a64pilot]

I think the reason the USCG does it is a way to remind people that whether or not they are competent, they are still legally responsible.
They are in fact the Captain I believe from a responsibility point of view.
It does bug me to be called Captain, but I don’t say anything.

[rbrentp]

My personal favorite was "watch you damn line, moron" addressed to me by an adult in an aluminum boat with a seagull when learning to sail sunfish in a small lake.


I agree, Captain on the radio, or when you don't know their name. Skipper is more for crew and sometimes with the right emphasis can be made to sound a lot like 'moron.'

[tarian]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I think the reason the USCG does it is a way to remind people that whether or not they are competent, they are still legally responsible.
They are in fact the Captain I believe from a responsibility point of view.
It does bug me to be called Captain, but I don’t say anything.

This is true throughout the world as captain implies your are the person in charge of the vessel for legal terminology , as when you check in to certain countries only the captain of the vessel may leave the vessel
this allows you to be prosecuted if the poo hits the fan or if your boat breaks regulations of other countries ,
The reason military , commercial, law enforcement will always ask for or address you as the captain is to establish who is in authority and therefore in charge , as the owner of the vessel might not be the captain on a voyage