Unlucky For Some!

Having recently had a review of MSC Ships with Steve from MSC he mentioned in passing that it was considered unlucky for a ship to have a deck 17, The reason for this is that in Roman numerals the number 17 is spelt XVII which can be anagrammatically re-arranged to spell out VIXI which translates as ‘I have Lived’, implying in the perfect tense “My life is over’ NICE!!

So it has got me thinking of other ship superstitions, a few I’m aware of because of ‘Otters Pocket’ and the canal boat industry – Like never renaming a boat when it’s still in the water – you should only do it when out of the water – although some hardnosed cynics say you should never rename a boat at all, so I did a little bit of research and found this list which I thought might be interesting.

• Never start a voyage on the first Monday in April as this is when Cain slew Able!

• Never start a voyage on the second Monday in April as this when Sodom & Gomorrah was destroyed!

• Never start a voyage on 31st December as this is the day that Judas Iscariot hanged himself!

• Avoid Red hair when going to a ship to start a journey, Red heads bring bad luck to a ship, this can be averted if you speak to the red head first!

• Pouring wine on the deck will bring good luck like an offering to the gods!

• Throwing stones out to sea will cause great waves and storms.

• Women onboard a ship makes the sea angry!

• However a naked woman onboard has a calming effect – hence the naked female figurines

• A dolphin swimming with a ship is very lucky!

• Killing a dolphin is extremely unlucky!

• Cutting your hair or nails is bad luck, apparently these were used as offerings to Proserpina and Neptune will become jealous if these offerings are made in his kingdom!! I won’t be telling the salons this one!

• It is unlucky to kill a gull

• It is unlucky to kill an albatross

• When the clothes of a dead sailor are worn by another seaman during the same voyage, misfortune will befall the entire ship!

• Never say the word drowned when at sea!!

• A shark following the ship is a sign on inevitable death – Sharks were believed to be able to sense those close to death!

• Black cats are considered good luck and will bring a sailor home safely from sea!