If you're ever adrift...

[timepiececlock]

Right now there's a sailor adrift at the edge of the world-- Cape Horn. I was reading about it with my mom tonight, discussing lifeboats and rescue attempts in ocean conditions, and we had this conversation:

"You do know the sailor's rule of thumb, right?"

"Which rule of thumb? I've got two thumbs." (I've also gotten quite a few sailor's rules of thumb growing up)

"Never step down into a lifeboat. Step up into a lifeboat."

EDIT: The guy's been rescued this morning.

Comments

[thisficklemob.livejournal.com]

Heh. Never heard that one.

Of course, I don't generally have rules of thumb, because that refers to the old law that a man could beat his wife with anything smaller than the width of his thumb. (Fireplace poker – ok! Frying pan – not ok!) I was quite cranky when I first heard that. ;-p

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I didn't know that was the etymology of the phrase, either. Though that DOES sound familiar, so I might have heard it before but forgot it. I thought rule of thumb had something to do with disciplining children in school, actually.

I doubt I'll stop using the phrase, as that meaning is pretty archaic and not part of the modern lexicon. But it's interesting trivia.

THe concept of the rule I mentioned above is actually pretty important, as staying with the bigger boat can make a difference in getting rescued or not-- even if the boat is destroyed or adrift, as long as it's partially above water it's much easier to spot by potential rescuers. So you don't leave it until it's literally lower than the lifeboat.