Here is a lighthearted look at the definitions of various nautical terms that might help the non mariners that may browse here to understand sailing and boating a little bit better. As you can see, we are not afraid to have a laugh at our own expense to give you these explinations!!
Commodore Someone that is getting slower racing so has to have an important job instead
Force 0; What is that????
High tide at the bar; Drinking time aboard Muscadet
Vice Commodore Their boat is not quiet as slow!!
Past commodore Their boat is getting faster again, so don't want to be seen winning while in the top jobs
Director of Sailing Person who decides it is safe to race when it is windy only when he would go out
Handicap director Works out the handicap system so that their own boat has the best chance of winning
Director of Communications Minister for bull"*^t
Weather terms
Force 1; Rarely heard of in Ireland
Force 2; Last happened over five years ago
Force 3; Ideal sailing weather for the faint hearted crews
Force 4; Contessa of Colla thinking of putting in a reef
Force 5; Two reefs in the above boat and Muscadet starting to move
Force 6; Muscadet realy moving now as the rest of the fleet taking in loads of sail
Force 7; Foirlonga, Eager Vega and Yola still sailing
Force 8; Three ships thinking of returning to port
Force 9; Yola finally thinking of coming in
Force 10; Pub anyone?
General nautical terms
High tide at the Great Saltee; The Neale family opening the wine bottles
The Saltees Throne; The little hut at the bottom of the Neale family garden
Race start time; The time the race director should be at the start line
Actual race start time; The time the race director actually got to the start line
Race winner; The person that handed the largest bribe to the race handicapper
This list is liable to be updated from time to time, or when the Director of Communications gets a large brown envelope to encourage him to add a humourous comment about another fellow member!
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