Don't shoot the albatross!: nautical myths & superstitions

Sailors are a notoriously superstitious lot - even if some won't admitit.

Years of taking to the water, at the mercy of uncontrollable (andsometimes deadly) forces, have led even the wisest to seek ways ofinfluencing the gods or fate.

From bad omens and odd rituals to luckytokens and forbidden words, the superstitions of the sea are legion.Many of these superstitions have refused to go away and quite a few have entered the general public consciousness.Some are amusing in their own right, others have fascinating origins,whilst for many there are bizarre anecdotal incidents which wouldappear to lend credence to these arcane beliefs.Illustrated with quirky cartoons, this book explores nauticalsuperstitions from all over the world in an informative yetentertaining way.Includes superstitions about: Boatbuilding, naming and launching; Luckyand unlucky dates to sail; People, things and animals not to let onboard; Signs and portents at sea; Words not to say (and theiralternatives); Predicting the weather; Fishing; and much, much more.