book on traditions of the sea

[Doug Tutty]

I'm probably going to buy a 1954 40' Rhodes cutter. I'm looking for a book that will describe some of the traditions and customs of the sea and sailing. For example, I know that a boat's bell holds special meaning for the crew, as much as the Regimental Colours to a regiment in the army. I would be interested in learning the history, the greater meaning, of things like that. Also, I know that there are many rituals and customs in sailing, and I would want to observe them properly.

[Clipper]

For starters try " Traditions of the Navy by Cedric W. Windas isbn 1-894572-39-4. Although the focus is naval it might make a good start . It is highly illustrated and enjoyable.

[Popeye]

Boo Hoo Hoo, you're a laker-roo.

Unless of course you wants to sail across the equator in which case King Neptune will hold court.

[Doug Tutty]

I've got Windas, but its hard to use as a reference.

I'll check out USNI Press.

As for the Lakeroo; These lakes are big enough to get good wind and unpredictability, but except for Superior, not big enough to let the waves settle out to big swells. Several people who have sailed both say its a toss-up between Georgian Bay and the North Sea.

[Ron Williamson]

Friday,the cross lake ferry,Chi-Cheemaun had to turn around because it was too rough.5 metre waves,gusts up around 85MPH.A crew member said that most of the passengers were tossing their cookies.
R

[TimH]

Sounds like fun :D (aside from the smell of those cookies being thrown)

[Doug Tutty]

Tying this thread to my other "Rhodes 40 Cutter", any idea how the Rhodes would have fared? I know we'd be tossing our cookies, but from a safety point of view, and assuming lots of sea room, how would the boat fare?

[ahc]

Uh, there are a lot of folks on Lake Michigan that would disagree that Superior is the only great lake capable of looking like the severest ocean on occasion. And Erie can be scary as well due to its relative shallow depth, in a storm.

[Doug Tutty]

Re laker: I intended to mean that of the 5(6) Great Lakes, only Superior is large enough to allow things to settle out; the others just like to sneak up on you and toss your cookies back at you. Erie' a big puddle just deep enough to float your boat but not deep enough for the waves created by its fetch. Erie's the scariest to me, just looking at it.
I've never seen Michigan. Superior I trust the most: I trust it to be an ocean with storms over the horizon that I can't see and waves heading for me any minute.

I remember when camping at L.S. Prov. Park near Wawa, taking the canoe to Old Woman Bay. Lake was very flat, only ripples at the beach. Clear day, forcast benign. I didn't like the sound of those ripples, felt like the lake was saying "keep off".

By the time I had the canoe back on the car, about the time that I would have been a mile out (i.e. sea room away from the clifs that rim the bay), there where 6' breakers on the beach, and breakers at the bay mouth. If I'd gone out, I would have had to wait, it turned out, 16 hours before I could have come back in.

I always greet the lake with respect before I put the boat in.

Especially when the boat is an 18' 43 lb open canoe, and I'm soloing. :eek: