EAGLE NEWSLETTER 2008

The language of yachting continues to evolve despite the attempts of traditionalists to maintain their linguistic roots in the 17th century. In the spirit of public service, and continuing the lesson on nautical terminology, the Eagle offers for your consideration a few terms which have recently appeared in the yachting lexicon.

Bozone, Bozoshere:
The substance surrounding some people that stops the thought process. It does not, however, similarly affect the speech processes. Endemic in yacht racing committees. The bozoshere, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

Dopeler effect:
The tendency of making stupid ideas seem smarter when they come at you rapidly and a lot dumber in retrospect. Tacticians and skippers are especially vulnerable.

Arachnoleptic fit:
The frantic movements resembling a spider's attempt to break dance performed just after winning a yacht race. A principal cause of post-race hospital admissions.

Glibido:
All talk and no action. For example: "I coulda won that race if I had a boat."

For Laughs

In the Andaman Sea there is many an oceanic anomaly. But I just hope we don’t get another Tsunomily.

We spotted a crew member painfully limping down D dock. When queried, he confessed to having stubbed a toe on a chain plate. "Oh, the agony of d'feet," he groaned.

One fundamental difference between yacht racing and cruising is that while racing it doesn't matter what you break as long as you take honours, while in cruising it doesn't matter when you arrive at your destination as long as you don't break too much.