This season, in an effort to be more sustainable and offset the gajillion holiday catalogs I have received in the mail (seriously Brookstone it’s getting ridiculous) I decided to go a different route.

Sacrificing a small stack of old Alert Diver mags, I wrapped this years gifts in an assortment of my favorite squishy creatures.

The post Have you been nautical or nice? Take your present wrapping game to the next level first appeared on Deep Sea News.

The post Wednesday Knot: The Poldo Tackle first appeared on Deep Sea News.

In  agreement or harmony with

A Bill of Lading was signed by the ship’s master acknowledging receipt of specified goods and the promise to deliver them to their destination in the same condition. Upon delivery, the goods were checked against the bill to see if all was in order. If so, they fit the bill.

The post Wednesday Nautical Term/Phrase: Fit The Bill first appeared on Deep Sea News.

Weatherward or windward is the side of the ship toward the wind.  The lee side is the side of the ship sheltered.  Much like the leeward side of island is one that faces away from the wind and provides shelter.  On the otherhand, a lee shore is downwind of the ship, i.e. facing the wind,  and if there is not enough leeway then the ship can be driven onto shore.

The post Nautical Term/Phrase Wednesday: Leeway first appeared on Deep Sea News.

to be distorted or mixed up

Garbling was the prohibited practice of mixing rubbish with the cargo.

The post Nautical Phrase/Term Wednesday: Garbled first appeared on Deep Sea News.

On ships, cannon balls were sometimes stacked in what was called a monkey, usually made from brass. When it got really cold the monkey would contract, forcing some of the cannon balls to fall off.

The post Nautical Phrase/Term Wednesday: Freeze the B@!!$ Off A Brass Monkey first appeared on Deep Sea News.

The quarterdeck at the stern of the ship was officer’s country.  A sailor didn’t go there unless he had work to do or if he was being disciplined.  A sailor caught in some infraction might be called aft for a Stern Lecture – being balled out by an officer.

The post Wednesday Nautical Phrase/Term: Stern Lecture first appeared on Deep Sea News.

The post Wednesday Nautical Term/Phrase: Cranky first appeared on Deep Sea News.

The post Nautical Phrase/Term Wednesday: Mayday first appeared on Deep Sea News.

Deep six refers to to six fathoms, or with a fathom being six feet, 36 feet.  The origins of the phrase are obscure at best.  It is currently thought that 36 feet was the rule of thumb needed for burial at sea to prevent a body from washing ashore.  Of course, modern sea burials usually require a 100 ft minimum.  The earliest documented usage in 1929 uses deep six as slang for grave.

The post Nautical Term/Phrase Wednesday: Deep Six first appeared on Deep Sea News.