From lojban@cuvmb.bitnet Mon Jul 29 01:31:35 1996 Received: from punt4.demon.co.uk by stryx.demon.co.uk with SMTP id AA13365 ; Mon, 29 Jul 96 01:31:32 BST Received: from punt-4.mail.demon.net by mailstore for ia@stryx.demon.co.uk id 838429012:04152:0; Sat, 27 Jul 96 01:56:52 BST Received: from cunyvm.cuny.edu ([128.228.1.2]) by punt-4.mail.demon.net id aa04022; 27 Jul 96 1:56 +0100 Received: from CUVMB.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU by CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU (IBM VM SMTP V2R3) with BSMTP id 7782; Fri, 26 Jul 96 20:55:45 EDT Received: from CUVMB.COLUMBIA.EDU by CUVMB.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU (Mailer R2.07) with BSMTP id 8750; Fri, 26 Jul 96 20:55:30 EDT Date: Fri, 26 Jul 1996 19:54:54 -0500 Reply-To: Scott Brickner Sender: Lojban list From: Scott Brickner Subject: Re: may the wind be always at your back X-To: Steven Belknap X-cc: LOJBAN@cuvmb.bitnet To: Multiple recipients of list LOJBAN In-Reply-To: (Your message of Fri, 26 Jul 1996 17:46:06 BST.) Message-ID: <838428964.4022.0@cunyvm.cuny.edu> Status: R Steven Belknap writes: >The fastest tack is directly across the wind, not downwind. Tacking was >made possible by the invention of the keel, which is at least a thousand >years old. If this is a nautical phrase, it must either be very old or >infelicitous. Running downwind is a rather nervous tack, as there is the >danger of an unintentional jibe, which can capsize the craft. Conveying >wishes to be slow and nervous seem more like a curse than a blessing. Is >there a reference for the assertion that this is a natical term? I am >familiar with this phrase from a plaque that my grandmother had in her >parlor, which was titled "An Irish Blessing May the road rise to meet you, >may the wind be always at your back...may the Lord hold you in the hollow >of his hand." It was set to verse by some composer, possibly Virgil >Thompson. Well, to be picky, I did note that downwind isn't always best. Besides, who said that the author was a *good* sailor? Maybe this helps explain why Ireland was never much of a naval power? ;) Too, I'd probably believe it if someone asserted that this particular blessing was nearly a thousand years old...