Talk:Sailing/Archive 4

Latest comment: 2 years ago by Ahunt in topic What's wrong with this edit
Archive 1Archive 2Archive 3Archive 4

What's wrong with this edit

This edit fails on more than one point[1].

(1) The substitution of the term "in irons" for "the eye of the wind". Here are some definitions of the two terms.
"In irons A sailing boat is in irons when she comes head to wind and fails to Pay off on either tack. The answer is to make a Stern board, to let the wind push her backwards and then to use the rudder to throw her stern off to one side or the other."[1]
"in irons head to wind and failing to pay off on either tack."[2]
"Irons, in. Position of sailing boat into wind and unable to pay off on either tack."[3]: 119 
The term "eye of the wind" is defined less often (perhaps because we all know what it means) but you will find:
"Eye of the Wind. The direction to windward from whence it blows."[4]
"Eye of wind. Directly up wind."[3]: 77 
Also definition h (a) under "eye" in the Oxford English Dictionary: "Nautical. the wind's eye: the direction from which the wind is blowing. Frequently in in the wind's eye. Also the eye of the wind."
From this we learn that the two terms are different in meaning, with "in irons" being the result of a tack going wrong. Hence this edit is inappropriate.

(2) The offered reference for this change is not an RS as it is a blog. The misuse of terminology discussed above demonstrates why a blog is often not a good reference – it is usually the work of one person and has no editorial checking or other review. See WP:USERGENERATED, which is part of WP:RS

Hence I have reverted the edit. ThoughtIdRetired (talk) 13:14, 25 September 2022 (UTC)

References

  1. ^ "Glossary of nautical terms - I". Practical Boat Owner. 11 November 2014.
  2. ^ Mayne, Richard (2000). The language of sailing. Chicago, Ill.: Fitzroy Dearborn. ISBN 978-1-579-58278-4.
  3. ^ a b Palmer, Joseph (1975). Jane's Dictionary of Naval Terms. London: Macdonald and Janes Limited. ISBN 0 356 08258 X.
  4. ^ Smyth, W. H. (2005). The sailor's word-book : the classic source for over 14,000 nautical & naval terms, including some more especially military and scientific, but useful to seamen ; as well as archaisms of early voyages, etc. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0851779727.
I agree that it is not appropriate to say Tacking or coming about is a maneuver by which a sailing craft turns its bow into and through the wind (often referred to as "irons") so that the apparent wind changes from one side to the other, allowing progress on the opposite tack. It makes no logical sense like that. "In irons" is when a tack fails and the boat ends up "head to wind"; it is not part of the process of a normal tack, which is bringing the boat though the eye of the wind. Good call on the revert. - Ahunt (talk) 13:32, 25 September 2022 (UTC)