Sailing Superstitions
Sailors have always been a superstitious lot – perhaps not surprisingly when you consider how dangerous life at sea once was. Months could be spent aboard ship at the mercy of storms, rough seas, disease and the occasional pirate.
With so much beyond their control, sailors developed all sorts of beliefs, rituals and superstitions intended to bring good luck, ward off disaster and ensure a safe return home.
Some have disappeared over time, while others are still surprisingly familiar to sailors today. Here are a few of our favourite sailing superstitions and the stories behind them.
Albatrosses
One of the best-known sailing superstitions concerns the albatross.
Seeing an albatross at sea was traditionally considered a good omen. Seabirds were often welcomed by sailors because they could indicate that land was nearby, although the albatross is rather different – these extraordinary birds can spend long periods at sea and travel thousands of miles without returning to land.
According to maritime folklore, sailors believed that albatrosses carried the souls of sailors who had died at sea. An albatross following a ship could therefore be seen as a protective presence, watching over the vessel and its crew.
Unsurprisingly, killing one was considered extremely bad luck.
This belief was immortalised by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. In the poem, the mariner shoots an albatross that has been following the ship, with disastrous consequences for the crew.
It also gave us the expression “an albatross around your neck” – something that becomes a heavy and lasting burden.
Whistling on a Boat
Fancy a whistle while you’re sailing? You might want to think twice.
Whistling aboard a ship has traditionally been considered bad luck because it was said to “whistle up the wind”. Whistle too enthusiastically and you might summon winds strong enough to bring a storm.
There may also have been a more practical reason for discouraging it.
On large sailing ships, the boatswain – or bosun – used a distinctive pipe or whistle to pass commands to the crew. Different calls had different meanings and could be heard above the wind, waves and general noise of the ship.
Unnecessary whistling could potentially cause confusion, so perhaps this particular superstition had a sensible side too.
Sailors and Tattoos
Sailors and tattoos have a long history together, and many traditional maritime tattoos carried particular meanings or were believed to offer protection and good luck.
European sailors encountered tattooing traditions during voyages around the Pacific in the 18th century, including during the expeditions of Captain James Cook. Tattooing subsequently became increasingly associated with sailors.
One of the most recognisable sailor tattoos is the swallow.
According to maritime tradition, a sailor could earn a swallow tattoo after travelling 5,000 nautical miles, with a second representing 10,000 miles. It became a badge of experience – quite an achievement at a time when every long voyage involved considerable risk.
The swallow also came to symbolise a safe return home. Swallows are migratory birds that return to the same areas year after year, making them an obvious symbol of homecoming for sailors spending months or even years away.
Other traditional nautical tattoos developed meanings of their own, from anchors and nautical stars to pigs and roosters.
Never Set Sail on a Friday
Friday has long had an unlucky reputation at sea, and one of the oldest sailing superstitions says that you should never begin a voyage on a Friday.
The origins aren’t entirely clear, although the belief is often linked to Christian tradition and the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday.
It also gave rise to one of the great maritime legends – the story of HMS Friday.
According to the tale, the Royal Navy became so frustrated by sailors refusing to sail on Fridays that it decided to prove the superstition was nonsense. A ship was supposedly commissioned called HMS Friday. Her keel was laid on a Friday, she was launched on a Friday and she began her maiden voyage on a Friday.
To really make the point, her captain was said to be a Captain James Friday.
HMS Friday sailed over the horizon…
…and was never seen again.
It’s a wonderful story. Unfortunately – or perhaps fortunately – there is no evidence that HMS Friday ever existed. It appears to be maritime folklore rather than naval history.
Still, would you volunteer to set sail on her?
Do You Believe in Sailing Superstitions?
Most sailors today probably aren’t going to cancel a weekend’s sailing because it’s Friday or panic because somebody whistles on deck. But old maritime superstitions are a fascinating reminder of a time when going to sea meant heading into a world that was dangerous, unpredictable and largely beyond human control.
And some traditions are probably best left alone.
If an albatross happens to follow your boat, we’d definitely recommend letting it be.
Related Articles
About Lovesail
Looking for someone to share your next sailing adventure with?
Lovesail.com is an online sailing community for sailing dating, friendship and crewing. Meet other single sailors, find sailing friends and connect with people who share your love of being on the water.
3 thoughts on “Sailing Superstitions”
Comments are closed.