AskOxford defines "weathercock" as a " * noun a weathervane in the form of a cockerel". A boat that weathercocks behaves like a windvane, and points into the wind. 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. Lee and weather helm are very ancient sailing terms, as other posters have pointed out. Rob. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
One of the beauties of the English language is how easy it is to turn a verb into a noun, and vice-versa. It makes it hard to have hard and fast rules. Chuck > 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 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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