RE: [Paddlewise] Weathercock and Leecock Etymology

Robert wrote: -
>It seems the kayak community has adapted it into a verb, and invented
>the opposite, "leecock".  I figure it is the kayak community, as no one
>else needs these words.

Jim wrote: -
>Did I miss it, or was there no mention of the idea that I was taught:
>that a kayak will weathercock even when the profile of the boat and
>paddler above water would suggest that the boat should leehelm.

Chuck wrote: -
>...Or, to put it more simply, "weathercock" and "leecock" are the verb
>forms, and "weather helm" and "lee helm" are the noun forms.


G'Day,

I've seen quite a few instances of sailors using weathercock as a verb to
describe what a ship or a sail is doing or occasionally a way to adjust a
sail, but you're right about leecock being mainly used by kayakers.

Weather helm and lee helm are sometimes used as verbs, while referring to a
boat's innate design that makes it turn in the wind. I'm a bit leary of
restricting the words weather helm and lee helm to being either verbs or
nouns. See for example James Tibensky's latest post, which seems to be
correct usage and easily understood.

Despite this I did like Chuck's very simple explanation, Just not bold
enough to use it myself.

All the best, PeterO
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