You Know You Are a Sailor When...

Sailing Today (from the UK) has come up with a list of 39 attributes of a real sailor.  How many ring true for you?

1. Knows what phase the moon is in

2. Can tell the wind speed by feel

3. Can light a cigarette no matter the weather conditions (French sailors)

4. Has lost a digit in a winching accident

5. Dresses in primary colours

6. Gets upset when people call the British national flag the Union Jack

7. Always passes port to the left (unless he’s in America)

8. Can sleep anywhere

9. Has an eclectic collection of yacht club-branded T-shirts

10. Sports sun-yellowed eyebrows

11. Is not afraid of seasickness

12. Does not carry an umbrella

13. Sniggers when hearing someone say ‘Over and out’ in a movie

14. Can always find a parking space

15. Drinks beer/rum/whisky for breakfast (after a long passage)

16. Never uses a wheelie suitcase

17. Finds it acceptable to eat and drink out of plastic

18. Owns a spork

19. Can fix anything (usually with epoxy or duck tape)

20. Can throw a great party in the smallest of spaces

21. Can make friends in an instant that last a lifetime

22. Is good at keeping in touch

23. Is adept at sewing up holes (in sails, in clothes)

24. Is good at whipping (but not in a 50 Shades kind of way, although he or she does know a lot of handy knots)

25. Daydreams of adventure

26. Actually goes on adventures

27. Shies away from botox, knowing that lines speak of a life well lived

28. Never goes for a manicure

29. Does not use the word ‘hurricane’ lightly

30. Is not daunted by third world lavatories

31. Is open-minded and big-hearted

32. Knows the name of a good pub or restaurant in every port town in the western hemisphere (and much of the eastern)

33. Has a friend in every port town in the western hemisphere – often a bartender

34. Can whip up a hearty meal consisting entirely of tinned and packet foods

35. Is not phased by the idea of making tea at 30° (whether lat, long or angle of heel)

36. Knows the difference between latitude and longitude – and is always aware of where he or she is

37. Has seen more sunsets and sunrises, dolphins and views of the Milky Way than anyone else they know

38. Is not afraid of the dark

39. Knows that lists like these are for desk-based landlubbers who aren’t busy off having adventures

Here is a list from H2uh0:

1.  Can bleed a diesel engine
2.  Can take apart a winch, grease and reassemble
3.  Has sailed many ocean passages
4.  Has the knowledge to use a sextant
5.  Has practiced man overboard drills with his/her crew
6.  Always turns on nav lights at sunset
7.  Knows a fine rum when he tastes it
8.  Studies the tide/current charts
9.  Knows that the moon comes up 55 minutes later each day
10.  Can tell a sailing tale or three

Damn, I got a ways to go!

1. Knows what phase the moon is in 2. Can tell the wind speed by feel 3. Can light a cigarette no matter the weather conditions (French sailors) 4. Has lost a digit in a winching accident 5. Dresses in primary colours 6. Gets upset when people call the British national flag the Union Jack 7. Always passes port to the left (unless he’s in America) 8. Can sleep anywhere 9. Has an eclectic collection of yacht club-branded T-shirts 10. Sports sun-yellowed eyebrows 11. Is not afraid of seasickness 12. Does not carry an umbrella 13. Sniggers when hearing someone say ‘Over and out’ in a movie 14. Can always find a parking space 15. Drinks beer/rum/whisky for breakfast (after a long passage) 16. Never uses a wheelie suitcase 17. Finds it acceptable to eat and drink out of plastic 18. Owns a spork 19. Can fix anything (usually with epoxy or duct tape) 20. Can throw a great party in the smallest of spaces 21. Can make friends in an instant that last a lifetime 21. Is good at keeping in touch 22. Is adept at sewing up holes (in sails, in clothes) 23. Is good at whipping (but not in a 50 Shades kind of way, although he or she does know a lot of handy knots) 24. Daydreams of adventure 25. Actually goes on adventures 26. Shies away from botox, knowing that lines speak of a life well lived 27. Never goes for a manicure 28. Does not use the word ‘hurricane’ lightly 29. Is not daunted by third world lavatories 30. Is open-minded and big-hearted 31. Knows the name of a good pub or restaurant in every port town in the western hemisphere (and much of the eastern) 32. Has a friend in every port town in the western hemisphere – often a bartender 33. Can whip up a hearty meal consisting entirely of tinned and packet foods 34. Is not phased by the idea of making tea at 30° (whether lat, long or angle of heel) 35. Knows the difference between latitude and longitude – and is always aware of where he or she is 36. Has seen more sunsets and sunrises, dolphins and views of the Milky Way than anyone else they know 37. Is not afraid of the dark - See more at: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2015/11/17/how-much-of-a-sailor-are-you/#more