The laws of most countries around the world do not criminalize cannibalism. This is the legal paradox - there is cannibalism, but there is no such crime, and cannibalism is tried as for murder and/or desecration of a corpse.
And since time immemorial in Britain, in addition to written maritime law(Admiralty law - formally established maritime laws) there is also maritime custom(Custom of the sea - unwritten maritime laws, were also a source of law).
And there is nothing romantic in their occurrence - pure pragmatism. For example, the maritime tradition according to which the captain must be the last to leave a sinking ship was created by the need during a wreck to prevent panic on board if the captain escapes from the ship first. A woman on a ship with men starving for the female body during a long voyage inevitably led to trouble. And a decomposing corpse on a long voyage is a threat of infection that must be eliminated by immediately throwing the remains of the deceased overboard. And so on.
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There was another ancient maritime custom, according to which sailors facing the threat of starvation were allowed cannibalism. A necessary condition For this purpose there was the unanimous consent of all those dying of hunger, and the casting of lots to kill and eat first. Lots were cast until the last survivor remained, or salvation came.
In this situation, too, pure pragmatism prevailed - it was better to give the sailors at least some chance to survive than to inevitably all die. And this was recognized not only as reasonable, but also legal according to maritime custom, and the surviving sailors were not subjected to absolutely any prosecution for such forced cannibalism.
They were not exposed until 1884, when one court decision established that eating people in any case was somehow indecent.
On May 19, 1884, the yacht Mignonette (“Mignonette”) with a crew of captain Thomas Dudley, his assistant Edwin Stevens, sailor Edmund Brooks and 17-year-old cabin boy Richard Parker set sail from Southampton - the yacht was being transported from England to Australia for its new owner .
On July 5, 1884, at the Cape of Good Hope, the ship received a hole and sank 5 minutes later. The crew left the ship on a lifeboat, having managed to grab only two tin cans of turnips from food. On these canned turnips and an accidentally caught sea turtle (about five to six kilograms of meat with bones), four men survived for two weeks.
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For the first time, Captain Dudley spoke about the need to cast lots according to maritime custom on July 16 or 17 - Stevens was in favor, but Parker and Brooks were against, and this topic was postponed. There was no water either, the sailors drank urine, and cabin boy Parker apparently also drank sea water, so he soon became seriously ill.
The debate about the lot intensified on July 20 or 21, and again did not lead to unanimous agreement. When Parker fell into unconsciousness on July 23 or 24 and was no longer able to take part in the vote, Dudley and Stevens insisted on stabbing the dying cabin boy before he himself died, his blood clotting and becoming undrinkable.
Brooks remained silent, speaking neither for nor against, and the next morning, July 24 or 25, after reading a prayer, Captain Dudley carefully stabbed Parker in the jugular vein with a penknife. Stevens held the cabin boy's legs while Brooks turned away for a while. Parker was just over half eaten when the sailors were picked up by a passing German sailing ship, the Moctezuma, on July 29, the 24th day of wandering the waves.
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Dudley, Stevens and Brooks did not even think of hiding what happened when the German sailors took them on board, and when they were delivered to the English port of Falmouth on September 6, they felt protected by the ancient law of maritime custom. But when the incident was reported to the Admiralty, and from there to the Ministry of the Interior, orders were received from London to detain the cannibals and bring them to justice. There, this case was perceived as an excellent opportunity to put an end to this barbaric maritime law forever, establishing an overruling judicial precedent.
Then another one arose legal problem- The Habeas Corpus Act allowed the accused not to testify against themselves, and there was no other evidence against them, since the German sailors sailed on, and the remains of the half-eaten Parker, according to the same maritime custom, were long buried at sea.
If all three defendants refused to testify against themselves, then “there would be no trial,” and then it was decided to acquit one of the sailors, provided that he testified against the other two. Since sailor Edmund Brooks was initially against the lot, then abstained and did not directly participate in the murder, he was released from criminal liability.
And the fact that Brooks also ate Parker, so cannibalism, let me remind you, is not a crime in itself.
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Dudley and Stevens pleaded not guilty, and public opinion was largely on their side. Moreover, the elder brother of the eaten Richard Parker, also a sailor, Daniel Parker, himself appeared at the preliminary hearings of the court, where in front of the jury and the public he demonstratively shook hands with all the defendants, saying that he was completely on the side of the sailors, who acted according to the ancient maritime custom in the only right way.
On November 7, 1884, the jury, on the advice of Judge Sir John Huddleston, made a rather rare special verdict for a British court, according to which the final decision “guilty/not guilty” was left to the discretion of the judge.
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Judge Sir Huddleston also did not want to make a controversial decision alone, transferring the case to the High Court of London for a collegial hearing by the Court of Queen's Bench. Who, on December 4, 1884, found the defendants guilty of premeditated murder, sentencing them to death by hanging, but with a petition for royal mercy.
Queen Victoria spared Dudley and Stevens on 12 December, replacing death penalty six months in prison, and on May 20, 1885 they were released. And the judgment in the case of R v Dudley and Stephens is now considered in English law as a very important judicial precedent, which establishes that extreme necessity does not include the ability to kill and eat a person, even to save the lives of other people.
“One day I was thinking about cannibalism, and the muse lightened up in my head” (c) Stephen King
In 1982, Stephen King wrote the story “Survivor Type,” in which a man marooned on a deserted island Pacific Ocean the surgeon, dying of hunger, ate himself - using heroin as an anesthetic, he amputated and ate his body in parts. And this is not a crime at all - eating yourself is not prohibited by any law in the world.
For those who haven't read it, read this story, it's short and it's really scary.
There is much about sailors that is incomprehensible to someone who constantly lives on land, and especially his frivolous attitude towards hard-earned money, which is far from large; his behavior on the shore and much, much more.
A professional sailor is formed as such under the influence of many reasons: these are beliefs (in the community called prejudices), and sea legends, customs, and a unique way of life, and a very expressive, vigorous maritime language; songs, games and more. All this is very interesting, and could be a whole book. Here we will touch upon this absolutely important issue.
Beliefs and prejudices
Beliefs arose as a result of observations of various natural phenomena by sailors of all nations from the first days of navigation. Much has become a prejudice due to the coincidence of the moment of manifestation of the hidden forces of nature with some misfortune on the ship or with a member of the crew. Many wonderful things were told due to the human desire to exaggerate, especially when an experienced salty sailor narrated long voyages and incidents.
Volumes have been written about maritime superstitions, starting with the campaign of the Argonauts, legends have been written about a floating rock-island, about the Flying Dutchman. Such purely marine natural phenomena as waterspouts, phosphorescence of water, St. Elmo's fires, winds, storms, sea monsters could not but give rise to a large number of legends, beliefs and customs that helped to avoid terrible phenomena.
Among such beliefs in England is impossibility. going to sea on Friday, and even more so on Friday the thirteenth. By the way, the thirteenth often falls on a Friday. In Russia, the role of Friday is given to Monday, and the thirteenth is also not held in high esteem.
Here are a few beliefs that Russian sailors follow instinctively, by virtue of custom: you cannot light a cigarette for three people using the same match - one of those who lit it will definitely die soon; You can’t whistle on deck - it invites a storm; Scrape the mast if, lying in the calm, you want the wind. Admiral Kolomeytsov pointed to another belief. During a calm, in order to get wind, you had to write the names of ten bald people on a piece of paper, throw the paper overboard and scratch the mast with your nails, whistling slightly... Soon the sails were filled with wind.
The following sayings should also be included in the category of such beliefs: “If it rains before the wind, put up the marsa halyards. “If it rains after the wind, choose them again.”
It was the custom of the Russian fleet, when passing abeam the southern Gogland lighthouse, to throw a small coin to Neptune as a tribute for a successful further voyage, especially if the ship was going on a long voyage.
An interesting custom is sacredly observed in all navies and was the result of draconian punishment measures in the distant past, namely, the recognition of the inviolability of the chest or suitcase in which the sailor stores his simple property. Hence the uselessness of the castle, the complete absence of theft among sailors. Stealing it from an officer is a completely different matter.
Much to our chagrin, we must make a reservation and single out a Russian sailor of the era armored fleet from the general rule. Cases of theft among sailors on ships of the Russian fleet were far from isolated, and especially on inland navigation vessels. We attribute this not only to the decline in morality after Japanese war, but also the lack of proper education of a sailor, the lack of what we collectively call a school of sea life. The same general international maritime custom is to recognize the superiority of the stern of a ship over its bow. The forecastle is the sailor's home, and the officer is there only on duty; The officer is at home on the poop deck; the sailor is not allowed there. This maritime custom-tradition is one of the foundations of discipline, especially on commercial ships. Strictly speaking, everything in the merchant fleet rests on this custom.
The old sailor is a strict opponent of killing seagulls and any seabird in general. This also comes from the distant past and is the result of the belief that the Soul of a dead sailor transmigrates into a seabird.
Sailor traditions
It is customary to step on the deck with your right foot. And spitting on deck is a crime.
The ship's log does not indicate in advance the port to which the ship is heading until it arrives at it.
Even in our time, various things are placed in the walls and flooring of a ship's wheelhouse. For example, boots or similar shaped objects. All this is a modern version of an ancient rite, according to which one should not entrust the ship to the will of the sea deities without appeasing them with some kind of sacrifice. Initially, a living creature was sacrificed - sometimes even a man or a woman - or blood was sprinkled on the bow of a ship, but now they sacrifice a bottle of champagne. It is this that is usually broken on the bow of every newly launched ship. At the same time, everyone knows that a ship on the bow of which the bottle did not immediately break is considered doomed.
You cannot go onto the upper deck without a hat.
Sea superstitions
A cat, especially a black one, is considered a lucky animal among sailors. However, a cat that begins to frolic in the sea “carries the wind on its tail” and foreshadows an imminent storm.
Failures will haunt a ship with a dead person on board, which is why they try to quickly throw the body of the deceased into the waves.
Failures will follow a ship that has changed its name, so sailors are reluctant to hire on such ships.
There is a belief that the souls of those killed at sea are reincarnated as seabirds. Therefore, experienced sailors try not to offend seagulls and other living creatures flying over the water. Also a very respected animal in the sea is the whale. It is believed that meeting him brings good luck.
The most revered saint among Russian sailors is Saint Nicholas of the Sea. They believed that only their Patron was “given God’s mercy in advance,” that is, in a critical situation he could help independently, without coordinating his actions with God.
A woman on a ship means trouble. Apparently it arose due to the fact that English the word "ship" feminine. Therefore, it was assumed that she - the ship - would be jealous of the ship's crew members for the woman who appeared on it.
The presence of virgins, especially red-haired ones, at the keeling of a ship is a bad omen.
The first nail in the keel of the ship must be driven through a horseshoe. The nail should preferably be gold (or a gold coin).
A ship with a keel made of ash, rowan, and dogwood beams will have a safe voyage.
A ship with a keel made of stolen wood will burn during its first trip to sea if the theft is discovered. If the theft is not discovered, the ship will travel faster at night than during the day.
A horseshoe nailed to the mast protects the ship from harm.
The shark's tail, nailed to the bowsprit, helps increase the ship's speed.
- “Wine baptism” - breaking a bottle on the stem of a ship being launched. If the bottle does not break the first time or flies past the hull altogether, this bodes ill for the ship.
Premature announcement of the ship's name is highly undesirable.
You cannot change the name of the ship.
The day the ship goes to sea is Friday (the day of the crucifixion of Christ), especially the 13th, is an unlucky day.
The day the ship goes to sea is the first Monday in April (the birthday of the world's first killer Cain and the day he killed his brother Abel) - an unlucky day.
The day the ship goes to sea is the second Monday of August (the day of the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah) - an unlucky day.
Passengers - lawyers (protecting the interests of shipowners) and clergy - can lead to troubles during navigation.
A dead person on a ship is unfortunate. It is necessary to lay it, if it appears, across the center plane of the ship, and upon arrival at the port, immediately send it ashore. And only after sending the body of the deceased it was possible to go ashore.
The law of passing a bottle of wine is against the sun, that is, to the neighbor on the right. Transmission by sun is sea grey.
The escape of rats from the ship means its death.
A bow-legged sailor means good luck.
The birth of a child on board is good luck.
A mop or bucket dropped overboard is a sign of bad luck.
St. Elmo's lights on the masts of a ship are a sign of good luck.
Passing a ship's flag between the steps of the gangway is a sign of failure.
Misfortune awaits those who use the belongings of drowned sailors or bring flowers on board before going to sea.
Shooting from anchor on Monday, especially the 13th, promises trouble (in the Russian fleet).
Spitting on deck is a crime.
Scratch the mast and the wind will appear during a calm.
During a calm, you need to write the names of ten bald people on a piece of paper, throw the paper overboard and scratch the mast with your nails, whistling slightly - the wind will certainly appear.
Recognition of the inviolability of a chest or suitcase.
Recognition of the superiority of the stern of a ship over its bow.
You cannot kill seagulls or any seabird in general (the souls of dead sailors move into them).
To call the wind, the captain must throw his cap, and the helmsman must throw his boot in the direction from which the wind was required.
The remedy for a tornado is sticking a knife with a black handle into the mast in combination with the ringing of weapons and spells.
To call the wind - whip each other with whips.
Marine legends and myths
According to the mythology of the ancient Greeks, the lord of the winds Aeolus had four assistants - the northern stormy wind Boreas, the eastern Eurus, the southern Not and the western Zephyr. And in order not to anger Aeolus and his assistants, the sailors turned to the lord of the winds with prayers and made offerings to him. But such offerings and prayers existed not only in Europe; still in the countries of Southeast Asia, sailors offer prayers to their ancient gods, light incense and bring gifts, and they do this with oriental generosity and reverence, throwing silver or even gold coins into the sea and decorations.
- “St. Elmo’s Fire,” which were nothing more than electrical discharges in the form of luminous beams that appeared on the sharp ends of tall objects when the atmosphere was saturated with electricity. Most sailors considered such “lights” to be a bad sign. It was believed that the degree of danger threatening the ship depended on the color of the lights. But at the same time, in fairness, it can be noted that these “lights” were not always considered a bad omen and, on the contrary, were even taken by some sailors as a sign of the favor of higher powers. It is well known that Columbus, on his first voyage across the Atlantic, was able to prevent a mutiny by the crew of one of his ships - the Santa Maria - by pointing to the “lights” as a sign of the favor of the heavenly powers towards their protracted voyage.
The history of the origin of the Neptune holiday, which is still celebrated today on all ships crossing the equator, is also interesting.
Neptune was considered by the ancient Romans to be the god of the seas. But this was not always the case - at first he was revered as the deity of rivers and springs, and also “oversaw” precipitation and was the patron of horses. Much later, under the influence of Hellenic beliefs, Neptune acquired features characteristic of ancient Greek god the sea elements of Poseidon, and mythological legends conveyed to him such an attribute of Poseidon as a trident. Neptune began to be revered as the ruler of the seas and oceans, and it was from that moment that sailors began to ask him for permission to cross the equator, or rather not even the equator, but a certain zone marked on maps as the border between different hemispheres of the earth, since the very concept of “equator” "appeared only during the time of the Great geographical discoveries. From these times, the first mention of the festival of Neptune has reached our times in the form in which it is celebrated to this day.
A special place in sea legends and traditions is occupied by the mysterious and terrible inhabitants of the seas and oceans and especially their depths. In ancient times, certain places dangerous for navigation were also associated with some kind of supernatural creatures. A classic example is Scylla and Charybdis, mythical creatures who, according to ancient Greek mythology and Homer’s Illiad, lived on both sides of the narrow strait (as scientists believe, the Strait of Messina) and destroyed passing ships.
Similar sea monsters were characters in other ancient myths, from where they later migrated to the Bible. However, most of the myths and legends about sea monsters were passed down orally from generation to generation of sailors.
Superstition among submariners
Most submariners are sure that the luck or bad luck of a boat is assigned to it along with its number. It is noted that tragedies often happen to submarines ending in “nine.”
A simple listing of facts only confirms this theory: on March 8, 1968, the Pacific Fleet submarine K-129 sank while on combat duty off the island of Guam (raised by US forces in 1974). About 100 people died.
In 1970, the Northern Fleet nuclear submarine K-69 collided with an unidentified US Navy nuclear submarine.
In the same year, on the K-329 nuclear submarine, which was being built at the Krasnoye Sormovo plant in Gorky, an uncontrolled reactor startup occurred, after which a fire broke out and a subsequent release of radioactivity.
In early 1983, the Northern Fleet nuclear submarine K-449 collided with an unidentified US Navy nuclear submarine.
In the same year, on June 24, the Pacific Fleet nuclear submarine K-429 sank off the coast of Kamchatka, in Krasheninnikov Bay. After lifting it was put in for repairs. When the repairs were completed, she sank again against the wall of the plant. 2 people died. On October 6, 1986, the Pacific Fleet nuclear submarine K-219 with two reactors and 15 ballistic missiles on board sank in the Sargasso Sea near Bermuda due to an explosion in a missile silo. 4 crew members were killed.
The last accident was in the fall of 2003 of the already decommissioned K-159, which was en route to the disposal site in the port of Polyarny, which claimed the lives of nine people.
Signs and superstitions among sailors
All sailors believe in the omen regarding rats leaving the ship, because they know very well that rats do not tolerate dampness, and therefore, if rodents flee, this means that a leak has opened on the ship.
You cannot light a cigarette for three people from one match - one of those who light it will definitely die.
A sailor with different colored eyes is unlucky.
Dropping a bucket or mop on board is a bad omen.
You can't whistle on deck - it invites a storm.
A woman on board is traditionally considered a bad omen for the ship. However, the child on the ship is fortunate.
Some of the oldest maritime superstitions involve tattoos. With their help, the sailors tried to gain favor with the gods and return home safely. Good luck was brought by the image of the sea (a symbol of hope), a black cat, a four-leaf clover and a horseshoe. Many sailors have tattoos of a star between their index and thumb. Thus, in the American Navy it is believed that a person with a pig and a cockerel on his left foot will never drown.
In every port they know that pointing your finger at a ship leaving it means dooming it.
The day the ship goes to sea is Friday, especially the 13th, which is an unlucky day.
THE WIND IS FAIR
The Pomors, in anticipation of a fair wind, chanted the names of all the winds, while making notches on a special stick. The helmsman threw her over his head into the sea, speaking kind words to the wife of the desired wind and scolding the wife of the opposite one.
In such cases, the Swedes said a prayer where they asked for help from the all-powerful spirit of King Eric. According to legend, he could direct the winds in the direction where he directed the visor of his hat.
This kind of wind was called “hat wind”, and headdresses of the style “like Eric’s” were mandatory attribute clothes of every self-respecting Swedish skipper. New Zealand sailors had a ritual of “feeding” the required wind.
WHISTLING OF THE WIND
Since time immemorial, sailors and fishermen have sought not only to predict what the wind will be, but also tried to control it. This is how many rituals and magical remedies were born, designed to protect the ship from storms or to cause the necessary wind. For example, in calm weather, the “tested” way to get the wind to work was “whistle.”
The Greek legend about the sea deity Triton says that, at the behest of his father, the god of the seas Poseidon, he was supposed to “whistle” the disturbances in the sea with the help of a shell, and, when necessary, calm it down. Chinese sailors also used the same technique, although with myths ancient Hellas they didn't know each other. The Chinese believed that sea shells were inhabited by spirits who controlled the sea elements. They especially treasured the rare white “Yusuan” shells, which have clockwise curls. They were usually kept in monasteries and were equal in value to diamonds. Happy was the sailor who was allowed to take a sacred relic with him to sea.
As time passed, shells were no longer used, but the custom of “whistling” the wind continued to live, spreading across all seas and fleets. Russian sailors have a proverb: “If you don’t whistle, there will be no wind.” But you had to whistle wisely. For this purpose, captains and boatswains had special “charmed” whistles, which were kept in prayer boxes and used only as a last resort.
They “whistled” the wind with melodious trills, turning in the direction from which they expected it to come. The number of whistles determined the strength of the wind and its duration. Simple mindless whistling on a ship was strictly punished, since, according to the sailors, it could lead to unpredictable troubles.
However, not all sailors relied on the “whistle” of the wind. The most prudent took appropriate measures even before going to sea. For example, the ancient Greeks shaved their heads before a long voyage, as if giving their hair as a gift to the god of the north wind, Boreas.
The Finns purchased miraculous ropes with three enchanted knots in port shops. At the right moment, by unleashing a particular one, it was possible to cause a light breeze, a good strong wind or an angry storm. Those who were poorer could buy a simple amulet in the form of a medallion with the image of a ship sailing.
The salty tramps had other “proven” remedies. For example, it was believed that the wind was brought by the fluttering of a mop over the side of the ship, scratching the mast with a knife, dousing the sails with water, tying a boot to the shrouds, or throwing some object overboard as a gift to the sea gods.
True, it happened that all these actions taken together did not cause the slightest movement of air. Then the last resort remained... to give the snot-nosed cabin boy a good spanking, so much so that he screamed throughout the entire ocean.
WHALE
There is a belief that the whale is a happy animal. Trouble awaited those. who killed whales, but the appearance of whales where they had not been seen before promised future troubles. Many whalers' wives in various countries lay in bed and starved while their husbands were at sea, in order to ensure that they had a good catch.
LABERLAND
For the British, Lubberland is a mythical land of abundance, a paradise for sailors who died on land, in contrast to Fiddlers Green - “Singing Tabernacles” - a paradise for sailors who died at sea.
JACOB'S LADDER (LADDER OF ANGELS)
This nickname is given to the ladder with wooden balusters and rope strings. It received its name from the optical phenomenon in the sky when a sheaf of sunlight passes through breaks in the clouds and traces its path through the fog due to scattering on the drops of which it is composed. Visible when the Sun is hidden behind heavy clouds and the air is filled with light fog. The rays are parallel, but seem to diverge from one point - the Sun.
MAST
It was believed that during a calm, in order to create wind, you need to scratch the mast with a knife, and from the side from which the wind is needed.
FINGER
Everyone knows from childhood that pointing a finger at something not only shows your bad manners, but is also bad form and an ugly act. It is especially bad luck to point a finger at the sky - this can anger the gods and bring a storm or calm. And in every port everyone knows that pointing a finger at a ship leaving it means dooming it to death.
SAIL
If the sea is calm, then in order for the wind to appear and the sails to be filled with wind, they were doused with water.
HORSESHOE
It would seem that the horseshoe is a purely land talisman. However, it also has the sea great value. If you nail a horseshoe to the mast, on the cabin door or below deck, then “Lady Luck” will definitely help your ship. That is why a horseshoe was also nailed to the mast of the flagship frigate of the famous Admiral Nelson.
Moreover, it should be noted that horseshoes are hung in different ways. Russians are upside down. Many nations nail the ends up; it is believed that then luck will not run away (will not pour out). Or you can hang it in the middle position, then it will symbolize the letter “C” - the first letter in the name of Christ.
NASTY WIND
The ancient sailors of Indonesia represented the contrary wind in the form of an angry storm woman. The best way to get rid of her wiles... is for all the sailors to strip naked. And then the embarrassed “flighty lady” would definitely turn aside.
WHISTLING
Almost all seas strictly observe the established taboo - you cannot whistle in the sea. This may change the wind or cause a storm. Among many peoples, whistling is generally considered a sin, since only devils can whistle.
Whistling irritates and angers the sea gods. Christians' dislike of whistling is associated with a legend according to which one frivolous woman whistled while watching a blacksmith make nails that were later used to nail the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to the cross. Modern sailors also know another sign - “don’t whistle - there won’t be any money.”
EARRING
An earring in the right ear protects against rheumatism and weakened vision. A large gold earring worn by sailors passing Cape Horn.
SAINT NICHOLAS
Among Russian sailors, the most revered saint is considered to be Saint Nicholas of the Sea. He not only “protects the poor and needy,” but can also provide assistance to ships in distress, stop a storm, heal a sailor who has fallen from the mast, and so on. Nikola Morsky is called an “ambulance”.
In the handwritten monument “Ustyansky Ruler” the following explanation is given for this. It turns out that all the saints, except Nikola, can provide assistance to those praying only with the permission of the Almighty. The patron saint of sailors is “given God’s mercy in advance,” that is, in a critical situation, he can act independently, without coordinating his actions with God. In maritime conditions, when sometimes every minute mattered, such assistance was highly valued.
SAINT ANTHONY
Among the Catholic Portuguese, Saint Anthony is considered the protector of sailors. The sailors treat him with reverence, but his image in the form of a figurine is treated rather unceremoniously. During a storm, she was tied to the mast, pulling the knots tighter and tighter, or bathed on a rope in the sea, or completely thrown overboard.
TATTOO
Tattooing - drawing designs on the body by injecting paint into the skin - was an ancient custom among sailors. In this way they tried to gain favor with the sea gods and return safely to their homeland.
The following images brought good luck - the image of the sea (a symbol of hope), a black cat, a four-leaf clover leaf, a horseshoe and other symbols, most often depending on their veneration by any nation. Many sailors had a common tattoo - an image of a star between the index and thumb. Most often, religious symbols were applied to the body, among Christians - a crucifix.
This was the goal of obtaining the protection of the gods, and also in the event of the death of a sailor, using these tattoos, it was possible to determine what faith the drowned man was, and therefore by what customs to bury him.
Cunning sailors tattooed a crucifix on their backs, naively believing that in the event of punishment for any offense, the boatswain would not hit the cross, the symbol of faith, with the “twelve-tailed cat.”
GULL
There is a belief that sea gulls are the guardians of the souls of people who died in shipwrecks. The plaintive cry of seagulls is the demand of the deceased to bury them according to Christian custom - in the ground.
MOP
It was believed that during calm periods, in order to create wind, it was necessary to splash a mop over the side of the ship, or, even better, throw an old mop overboard. After the wind blows, the mop is put away in the hold so as not to anger the gods or frighten away the wind. A bad omen is a mop accidentally falling overboard.
CALM
Who does not know the brave and enterprising sailor Odysseus, the hero of many ancient greek myths? In one of them, the ruler of the “raging and light” winds, Aeolus, gave the son of Ithaca a fair wind and a huge fur with other winds, forbidding him to open it for ten days. The granted fair wind inflated the ship's sails, and it seemed that nothing could prevent the sailors from returning to their homeland. However, their dreams were not destined to come true. Odysseus' curious companions untied the fur. The winds hidden there, breaking free, united into a terrible storm...
STORM
And currently, a storm is the most dangerous natural phenomenon for the life of a sailor and his ship. In ancient times, the Chinese, in order to protect themselves in storms, came up with the idea of making paper boats and launching them on the raging waves. They hoped that evil spirits the seas will attack the toys, and the real junks will escape from danger.
Their neighbors, the Japanese, in such cases sacrificed a ginger cat they had previously stored to the storm. Mediterranean sailors poured a glass of wine overboard, and Eskimos poured a glass of fresh water overboard.
What can we say, when even on land we can often meet a person throwing a cigarette butt into the grass or leaving uncollected garbage behind him.
If you are invited on a boat, remember
- The main person on the ship is the captain. Everyone on board must unquestioningly carry out any of his orders, without discussing the correctness of actions. If you are in doubt, you can express your point of view after you return to the port and moor at the wall.
- When entering the ship, you must take off or change your shoes to avoid damaging the deck covering.
- if you have previously been invited to the yacht, before stepping on deck, ask the captain if he allows you to board.
- Do not throw garbage overboard - candy wrappers, cigarette butts. Check with the captain whether smoking is allowed, where it can be done, and where the trash container is located.
- Do not smoke or drink alcohol outside specially designated areas - red wine practically cannot be wiped off the teak flooring, and skin burned by cigarette ashes can ruin the mood for the entire vacation for both the captain and his guests.
- Refrain from excessive drinking of alcohol during the transition - it is better to celebrate your return to the marina, and on the water limit yourself to a glass of champagne, a glass of cognac or a pint of good beer.
- Do not distract the captain while driving and do not ask him to “let him steer.” When it is safe, the skipper will offer to stand at the helm under his supervision.
- If you decide to swim, please inform the captain. He will tell you where it is best to do it from - from the swim platform or allow you to dive from the forepeak. In any case, swimming is possible only after the ship has stopped moving and the engines have been stopped.
Maritime traditions
Many sources mistakenly attribute sailors' superstitions to traditions. However, we see that this is not the case. Superstitions do not carry a cause-and-effect relationship, while traditions are not only a tribute of respect, but also positive aspects that are based on real facts. Therefore, let's leave superstitions for evening conversations over a glass of whiskey, and remember some traditions.
- One of the most famous maritime traditions It is considered breaking a bottle of champagne on the stem when lowering a new boat from the slipway, or during the first slipping. But for this you need to be confident in your abilities - after all, if the bottle does not break or hits the stem, this is a bad sign. In general, in modern world this tradition has evolved into dousing the deck with champagne and drinking a glass of wine there. In this case it is guaranteed good mood, and the gelcoat or varnish on the cheekbones of the vessel will remain intact.
- Remove fenders as you go. Fenders are a necessary thing. But you shouldn’t wave them around in a friendly manner - put them in baskets or hang them on rails. When approaching the parking lot, they can be released again so that they protect the sides from damage. If you were standing at a rusty pier or using a lock, immediately remove the fenders and wash them with powder as soon as possible - slime from the lock chamber or dirt from the pier remaining on the fenders can stain the side of your or a neighboring boat.
- Remember that the right side of the sea is considered more important. Hence follows the tradition of respected guests and ladies to place right hand Push.
- Having moored to the shore, first securely fasten all the ends, mooring lines and springs, lay down a mat - a rug, and only then go ashore.
- When mooring at the berth at the yacht club, it is customary to use shore facilities. The on-site shower and toilet are no worse than those on board.
- If you are moored near a buoy in the marina waters, switch the sewer system to collect water in internal tanks. Believe me, a pumping latrine that throws your waste products overboard can ruin the romantic mood not only for you, but also for other vacationers.
- Don't play loud music if there are other people nearby. Of course, you have a good mood, drive and a great music system, but your neighbors’ tastes may differ from yours, or they just want to be quiet.
- If possible, stand as far away from other boats as possible - relaxing on the water requires privacy, and it’s not a fact that your neighbors will like the fact that you stand close to their yacht.
- When approaching another vessel, leave sufficient distance between you - you can moor alongside only after receiving an invitation and hanging the fenders.
- There is also a tradition of exchanging hand waves when passing or overtaking. In inland waters, this rule is mainly followed by yachtsmen and “gondoliers” - owners of inflatable motor boats. The first - because of traditions, the second - from the joy of being on the water.
- One of the accepted traditions is to talk on a walkie-talkie. This is better than shouting across the entire marina: “Hello, Vasya!”, However, you should not overuse it - on the inside waterways It’s enough to call a friend on channel 5, and then offer to switch to an alternative frequency; fortunately, in a modern walkie-talkie, you can flash all 65 channels. Yachtsmen use channels 25 and 43 for communication.
Good seamanship
Everyone talks about it, but you will not find its description anywhere - neither in Ozhegov’s dictionary, nor in Wikipedia, nor in the Encyclopedia. But this practice exists. Moreover, in the basic rules of navigation - COLREG-72 - Rule No. 8a refers to precisely this very practice for preventing collisions.
Let's figure out what it is, where this practice came from, and why it is needed.
As brief definition we can say that good seamanship is common sense plus the experience of generations, multiplied by knowledge and applied to the place.
To put it more broadly, this is the ability to foresee all scenarios and make the only right decision based on the requirements of rules, laws, skills, common sense, intuition, one’s own and others’ experience.
Speaking about, we will specifically focus on the application of good maritime practice to modern conditions of mooring, parking, movement, and preparation of the vessel.
In the parking lot
It has long been the case that on a ship the captain is the boss, he is the one who sets the rules, he is responsible for the lives of those on board, and his word is not subject to discussion. According to the rules of ethics:
- If you are standing on the pier, and at this time a boat or yacht is approaching it, offer your help in mooring, express your readiness to accept the end. Naturally, measure this with your own strength - if you cannot correctly lay the end on the bollard - it is better to simply hold it in your hands in case of calm and a small size of the vessel.
- At night, use dim lighting - the bright light of floodlights on the deck will disturb other ships that are moving in the dark when the stars are shining.
While the ship is moving
The basic rule of good seamanship in navigation is: “ consider yourself closer to danger" This means that you should not underestimate the level of that very danger. It is better to take measures to prevent an incident that will not happen than to underestimate the situation and lose control over it.
In my youth, I almost went on a glide with oars after I found myself between an approaching motor ship and a pusher on the Volga. Deciding to show nobility, late in the evening I took my friends to the other side, without taking with me either a walkie-talkie, a supply of gasoline, or signaling equipment (the distance was less than 1 kilometer, there were no large ships in sight). When I was returning back, the engine suddenly stopped on the ship's way. It turned out that the remaining gasoline from the tank was poured by friends into a generator and chainsaw and used to light a fire on the shore. The rocket launcher remained in the camp, there was no communication, first the Volga-Don appeared around the bend, and then on the other side - a cruise ship. It's good that there were oars. At that moment, the author of these lines could probably have overtaken the “academician” in a four-meter PVC boat - she wanted so stubbornly to row and return to the camp in one piece.
- You should go out on the water only on a fully equipped vessel: check the filling of fuel and drinking tanks, the serviceability of lights, radio communications and warning equipment, rescue and fire fighting equipment, anchors and the tender.
- A tuzik on a large yacht is not only a means of driving ashore for more alcohol - it is also the main life-saving device, in addition to a life raft. Remember this and always keep the engine of the tike fueled, and the tine in good working order and complete.
- Don't neglect. On a motorized vessel, always attach the emergency engine stop pin to your clothing or on your wrist, and when on it, use safety carabiners to cling to the railing and follow the rule: “ one hand is for the yacht, the other is for yourself" Use vests according to the situation. Modern equipment is quite comfortable and practically does not restrict movement.
- If your trip is long, change your watches on time. However, a change of watch should occur only after completing critical maneuvers and reporting the situation to the incoming team.
- Always keep a ship's log, even when going out into waters near Moscow. If something happens, this will be your main document. And you need to try to be able to use it to determine your location at any time with acceptable accuracy.
- Another rule that seems obvious, but many people ignore it. When diverging, change the speed to the mode of minimal wave formation, try to pass as far as possible from other vessels. Sometimes it becomes scary how forty-foot boats, now called motor yachts, pass in transition between fishermen on rubber boats. Or how a divergence occurs in the same Moscow Canal, when a wave of a fifty-foot “Princess” or “Pershing” exposes the bottom near the shore, and poor yachtsmen with small motors are almost thrown onto the concrete embankment.
- Feel free to use radio communication even if you have a small 17-foot powerboat. It is better if your presence is known on large ships, and your maneuver will not be a surprise to others. When traveling to another region, do not forget to check on what frequencies local services operate. The author of these lines, during a trip to Lake Peipsi, was surprised by the suspicious silence on the air on River Channel 5, and only after meeting with a coast guard boat did he think of turning on the marine radio station.
What do sailors believe in and what traditions do they observe?
The sea is a mysterious and uncontrollable element. Therefore, for a long time, everyone who deals with it - fishermen, sailors, pirates - believe in many legends and observe strictly established customs and traditions. Let's get acquainted with the most interesting of them.
Woman on a ship - unfortunately
The myth that a woman on a ship brings misfortune is known to everyone. Where did he come from? The fact is that sailors used to call their ships female names, hoping it will bring them good luck. It was believed that if a representative of the fair sex got on board, the ship might become jealous of the crew and stop obeying the captain. That's why women were never taken on the voyage. Danish maritime law in the 16th century even required that any lady found on a ship be thrown overboard. And in Russia, women were not accepted as members of yacht clubs until the beginning of the 20th century.
Over time, the attitude towards women on the ship changed, and they began to take them to sea. However, there is still an unwritten rule among sailors that under no circumstances should they listen to women’s advice regarding their ship.
In fact, the legend that women bring misfortune to a ship has quite prosaic roots, because on a multi-month voyage, serious passions can boil among the sailors because of any lady, which often leads to disastrous consequences.
Nicholas the Wonderworker - patron saint of sailors
Sailors different countries and continents consider Nicholas the Wonderworker their heavenly patron. Why did they choose this particular saint? The fact is that only St. Nicholas the Wonderworker can ask for help without first turning to God. And during a storm or other emergency There is no time for long prayers on a ship. That is why sailors usually turn to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker for help. By the way, many churches in honor of this saint were built by sailors who, during times of danger, promised to thank their patron if they could return home alive.
The Legend of the Flying Dutchman
In maritime folklore, there are very often references to the Flying Dutchman - a ghost ship that forever plows the seas and cannot land on the shore. It is believed that seeing a ghostly ship is a bad omen. According to legend, in the 17th century, a Dutch ship under the command of Captain Van der Decken (or Van Straaten) was returning to Europe from the East Indies. There was a young couple on board. The captain really liked the girl, and he killed her lover in order to propose to the beautiful passenger. However, she did not agree, but threw herself overboard. When the ship reached the Cape of Good Hope, a storm arose. Van der Decken did not accept the team's offer to wait out the bad weather and even shot several of his subordinates. The captain, who was known as a terrible foul-mouthed and blasphemous man, declared that the ship would sail around the cape, even if it took forever. With his behavior, Van der Decken brought a curse on the ship, and now he is destined to forever roam the sea. There is a version that the Flying Dutchman has hope of finding long-awaited peace. To do this, his captain needs to find a girl who will agree to marry him.
There are other versions of the legend of the Flying Dutchman. So, according to one of them, Van der Decken promised to sell his soul to the devil if he could cross the Cape of Good Hope. According to another version, the captain promised to continue trying to pass the cape in the storm until the second coming, which is what happened. They also say that the entire crew of the Flying Dutchman simply died from the epidemic and were not buried, which is why the ship became a ghost.
The most famous maritime signs and customs
Sailors have a huge number of different signs and customs. So, everyone knows the sign that says that rats flee from a ship before a shipwreck. This is not just a superstition - rodents perfectly sense changes in humidity on a ship, so they are the first to notice even the smallest leak and try to escape from death by flight. Sailors have a special relationship with cats - they are believed to bring good luck. And if the team’s furry pet starts playing on the deck, wait for the wind.
Many signs and customs among sailors are associated with the wind. Previously, a sailboat could get stuck in the middle of the ocean for a long time due to calm, so a variety of methods of causing wind were in use: from prayers and sacrifices to the ancient gods to scratching the mast. But sometimes the wind turned from a friend into a worst enemy, and then the sailors resorted to a variety of ways to calm the storm. Every person who regularly went to sea had amulets that protected them from bad weather: shells, icons, shark teeth. It was strictly forbidden to whistle on ships - this could cause a storm.
