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Jigjag, aren't you glad those cumbersome words are ones we'd seldom - if ever - use? I bet the spelling variations are partly to blame for the virtual disappearance. If I was writing a book, I think I'd have the captain/skipper talking rather than the 'bo-whatever-sun'. I'd also have everyone going to the bridge, rather than the F- place. That'd make things much easier!

Malone, Jigjag

Thanks for all the nautical stuff. I have never said or written f''''''''e, or b'''n in my life, but love the words even though I dont know what they mean. I suppose a boatswain swains boats but what does that mean?

I have been on a few ferries but do they have the F-word?

Malone

I am looking forward to your next book - Tales from the 7 Cs (or C's).
I hope it stars the purser or bursar. I dont know the difference.

Grunger

If you have been on F-boats, surely you have visited the F-word place. I don't think I have ever used the F-word in speech either.

Grunger

Glad you enjoyed the nautical stuff - esoteric though it was. (I've always like 'esoteric', nice to have the chance to use it.)The B looks after 'a ship's boats, rigging, flags etc'. 'A ship's boats'? What on earth does that mean? It can't just be a ship's lifeboats, it would have said so. No, a sailor's life is definitely not for me!

Jigjag
My next book certainly won't have any pursers, bursars or bosuns in it - I couldn't cope with all the technical knowledge required. I'm tempted to do some sort of travel book, guide, featuring trips to islands around the world. At the moment it's provisionally titled 'Island Fling' - the opening chapter details my very first bout of seasickness.

`I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by; And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking, And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.`

Sailing always was a `male` preserve Malone, (until Ellen MacArthur stuck her oar in!) ... although the ships always seem to be female!

To continue the nautical theme ...

... dodgy `homophone` in a recent crossword, SHORE & SURE

It may work for some I suppose.

Tyke, that homophone was definitely dodgy for me.

Thanks for your poem post - that took me back years, to my school days!

I don't mind boats at all, it was the rather arcane terminology that was more of a nuisance - especially when there were four versions of the B word. I'll stick to being a passenger and forget all the pesky words - well, I think most people have done that anyway, the sailors are free to keep using their jargon, terms.

Tyke Malone

It works for me - I pronounce Shore and Sure the same. Similarly with Poor, pore, paw and pour - all exactly the same.

I suppose some people Sure as Shoo-er

Malone
I think you are right to stay ashore. I am possibly old-fashioned but I cannot understand why a woman would want to go to sea. I suppose the Wrens enjoyed it though.

Tyke

I pronounce them the same. Similarly law, lore and lure.

Malone

I enjoy being on the water. I loved rowing at school. I only rowed with the girls but one day I was asked to cox the boys eight. I thought my brilliant skill had been recognised but the stroke told me later that it was only because I was so light.

Cox, coxswain - tricky words.

grunger

Glad to hear that the boat did not sink. I get confused with the front of a boat/ship. Sometimes it is pronounced as in BOW and arrow, and sometimes Bough as in branch. Which is right?