Definitions, definitions
Dave Simpson
Interesting seeing how all the contenders jump all over each other when
sailing definitions or questions of technque come up. Grab for the sail
books everyone, let me throw this one in the ring.... what is the
difference between (and the definitions of) Floatsum and Jetsum (more
arcaic of sailing terms) (I do this with my sailing students every now
and them to see if they are awake :) you can check my spelling at the
same time.
ski...@capital.net
Dave--
Easy
Flotsam: stuff floating in the water as a result of a shipwreck
Jetsam: stuff floating in the water that was intentionally jetisoned
from the craft in order to lighten the load in a dangerous situation.
But, I'd like to respond to your comment about people "jumping all
over" others about definitions. I need to disagree. If the differences
had been merely a matter of SEMANTICS, I wouldn't have "jumped." (I
mean, really, who cares if "baggywrinkle" is misdefined. It isn't life
or death.) But when very important SAFETY TECHNIQUES are misrepresented,
I believe experienced sailors have a responsibility to set things right.
This is why I cited reference books, so that it wasn't simply a shouting
match of "my explanation" versus "the other person's explanation." I
cited references so that readers (especially new sailors) could have
confidence that the corrected information was accurate.
But heck, go ahead. Run "baggywrinkle" or "barber hauler" up the
flagpole!
Happy sails to all.
Ed, Tartan 3000 s/v Chrysalis, LI Sound
John Masland
Dave Simpson <dhl...@pacbell.net> wrote:
>books everyone, let me throw this one in the ring.... what is the
>difference between (and the definitions of) Floatsum and Jetsum (more
>arcaic of sailing terms) (I do this with my sailing students every now
>and them to see if they are awake :) you can check my spelling at the
>same time.
Assuming no cute trolling with the spelling, the former (flotsam,
flotsum, flotsan, flotson) floats, whereas the latter (jetsam) sinks
when cast, or swept, overboard.
Now where does "lagan" fit in? :)
Ciao...
Unknown
In article <4v8trv$8...@news2.snfc21.pacbell.net> Dave Simpson
<dhl...@pacbell.net> writes:
>Interesting seeing how all the contenders jump all over each other when
>sailing definitions or questions of technque come up. Grab for the sail
>books everyone, let me throw this one in the ring.... what is the
>difference between (and the definitions of) Floatsum and Jetsum (more
>arcaic of sailing terms) (I do this with my sailing students every now
>and them to see if they are awake :) you can check my spelling at the
>same time.
>
>
According to my small Oxford dictionary:
Flotsam
DEFINITION - floating wreckage
Jetsam
DEFINITION - goods thown out of ship to lighten it and washed ashore
I looked them up to check the spelling, but the definitions were as I expected.
I have always accepted Jetsam as being the same root as Jettison.
Regards, Shane.
sh...@wonk.demon.co.uk
"A closed mouth gathers no feet."
Dave Simpson
Good work team!
The main reason for my posting is to make people aware of the fact
that sailing definitions do CHANGE... in meaning and spellings...As
a past owner of over 50 sailing books (most of which I donated to our
sailing school) I could line up books depending upon their age, and what
language translated from and get quite a variance of definitions. By my
oldest book (early 1800's) Jetsam was anything cast overboard by
(someone's) hand. Flotsam was anything washed overboard
(unintentionally) by the sea. Spellings are all over the place.
Definitions of Broach change in the books too.. A definition in one
book is an "undesired, uncontrolled turn past ANY quarter, meaning (I
guess) a turn over 90 degrees, as a quarter was 1/4 of the 360 degree
circle.. this could then happen at any point of sail..and as stated by
someone else..a yaw (here we go with terms again)to broach the ship to
broadsides of the wind and wave. and in newer books I see a definition
of a "violent uncontrolled turn into the wind (which would likely happen
on a run or broad reach). You see why I got rid of the books.
Anyhoo, point is when people start breaking out the old sailing books
there WILL be differences of definition. Let's try to keep things
in the (late) 20th. century. By the way, I applaud anyone who corrects
people for the sake of safety, but keep things simple...For all you new
sailors and wannabee's, WELCOME to the world of sailing!! Don't feel bad
about being new. There are NO dumb questions! Keep asking... don't
worry about opinions.. There are times when I can't get 4 (experienced)
sailors on the same boat to agree to what point of sail we are on!
Happy sailing everyone! Safety First! :)