Why We Don't Leave on Fridays

. . . Other Superstitions We Follow and Some We Don't

Sailors are supposed to be a superstitious lot. While the two of us are not superstitious generally, why push our luck?  We've chosen to pick and choose the sailing superstitions we follow. For example . . 

Don't leave on a Friday -- The idea that Friday is an unlucky day to set sail has been around for centuries. It's said that in the 1700s the British Navy tried to dispell this idea by starting construction of a ship on a Friday and launching it on a Friday. The ship and crew were never seen again. 


However, Sunday sail, never fail -- On the other hand, the best day to set sail is on Sunday.

No bananas -- They are thought to be unlucky on board. Most recorded cases of disappearing ships in the 1700s had bananas on board. The superstition may have started because bananas are said to produce a deadly gas in the heat of a cargo hold. Another thought is that  deadly spiders hid in the bunches. Their bite caused sailors to die suddenly, resulting in the belief that bananas are an unlucky cargo.

No women, unless naked -- We ignore this superstition, but it explains why sailing ships of old had carved naked women on their bow. They were supposed to calm the seas. Clothed women on board were thought to distract seaman from their duties. Of course, naked women wouldn't distract anyone, would they? Wink. Wink.

Avoid red-headed people (also flat-footed people) when going to the boat to start a journey -- To neutralize the bad luck, speak to the red-head or flat-footed person first.before they speak to you. Or better yet, slug them before they can speak to you.

Bring a lucky black cat on board -- Unlike at Halloween on land, black cats are a sign of good luck on a boat. They protect the food by eating rats on board and are thought to have magical powers in their tails (?!). And yes, rats even get aboard modern vessels.

Watch your step -- Disaster will follow if you use your left foot to step aboard a boat.

Don't kill a seagull, especially an albatross, at sea -- It's unlucky because gulls are thought to contain souls of sailors lost at sea.

Be happy for dolphins -- Dolphins seen at sea are a sign of good luck.

Avoid green paint unless you have TowBoat US -- Never paint a boat green because it will run aground.

Don't whistle on board -- It's a long-held belief that whistling will cause the winds to rise, also known as whistling up a storm.

Make a tribute to Neptune -- Before starting a long voyage, pour wine on the deck for good luck. Box wine is fine. Neptune isn't picky.

Don't change the name of a boat -- It's believed that boats develop an identity of their own after being named and that changing a boat's name is bad luck. A de-naming ceremony is the only way to safely change a boat's name. (See John Vigor's blog to the right for de-naming methods.)

Let's knock on wood that we'll all be safer if we follow most of these ideas. By the way, knocking on wood for good luck is another superstition that started with seamen knocking on the sides of a boat to see how solid it was or if rot or worms had weakened the wood. Just thought you'd want to know.