How Sailors Compliment Each Other
Sailors compliment each other in strange ways. The novice may easily be mislead and not understand the true meaning of the apparent praise. As an aid to those new to sailing, we have put together a list of common verbal responses to your doing well in a race or a series, and the true meaning of these comments.
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Compliment Given After A Good Performance |
The True Meaning |
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"Good race!! "(With a pat on the back.) |
"You are not a threat, so I can afford to be magnanimous." |
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"Good job----"(said without emotion.) |
"I am a better sailor, but you beat me because I screwed up, so I guess I have to be a good loser." |
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No comment at all. |
"You have arrived. I expect you to do fairly well." |
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"I question your changing ballast between regattas (or whatever)." |
"You are advancing more rapidly than I think is appropriate and I don’t like it." |
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"By the way, I don’t like the way you use two different jibs with one main (or whatever)." |
"You are getting close to the top. We are collecting data, and I am just letting you know." |
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"And while we're at it, We think your sails are illegal (or whatever)." |
Bingo!! They have dinged you three times, the magic number. These sailors are sure that you could not possibly be a better sailor. They think you are winning because you are using methods that must be illegal. These sailors have paid you the highest complement in sailing!* |
L Robinson