Look Out
Whether sailing close hauled or running free-LOOK OUT!
Whatever the weather, wherever you be-LOOK OUT!
You cannot avoid a thing you don’t see-so LOOK OUT!
When coming to anchor, or stowing up sail-LOOK OUT!
Or washing the decks with mop and pail-LOOK OUT!
Whatever you’re doing never fail to-LOOK OUT!
It is easy to hit an object that’s there—so LOOK OUT!
But it’s just as easy to miss it with care-so LOOK OUT!
Vessels and lights spring from Lord knows whereso LOOK OUT!
Now those four rules, we all must note,
are no use in a Sailing Boat,
As we’re dependent on the Wind,
Another set of Rules we find.
1. A “close-hauled ship you’ll NEVER see
Give way to one that’s running free”
It’s easier running free to steer
And that’s the reason she keeps clear.
2. With wind the same side, running free,
One’s to Windward, one’s to Lee,
The Leeward ship goes straight ahead,
The other alters course instead.
3. Both “close-hauled” or both quite “free”
ON DIFFERENT TACKS, we all agree,
the ship that has the wind to PORT
Must keep well clear, is what we’re taught.
4. At other times the altering craft
Is that which has the wind right aft.
Lines by Mr Thomas Gray Marine Department Board of Trade 1867
When the rain’s before the wind
Topsail sheets and halyards mind
When the wind’s before the rain
Soon you’ll set all sail again.
Others:
“When in danger or in doubt
Wave and shout and run about”
When close hauled on a starboard tack, let no vessel cross your track.
When its high water at London Bridge,
Its half ebb at Swin.
When its low-water at Yarmouth roads,
Its half-flood at Lynn.
First the Dudgeon, then the Spurn,
Flamboro’ Head comes next in turn,
Filey Brigg is drawing nigh,
Scarboro’ Castle stands on high,
Whitby Rock lies out to sea,
So steer two points more Northerly,
Huntscliff Foot is very high land,
Twenty five miles from Sunderland.
Hartlepool lies in the bight,
Seaham Harbour is now in sight.
Our ‘Old Man’ says:”if the weather’s right
We’ll be in the Tyne this very night,
But if the winds in the East and the tide is least;
It’ll be, ratch off, ratch on!”
Red over Red
The Captian is dead
Red over Green
Sailing machine
Red over White
Fishing at Night
