Top 5 harmful yachting superstitions

Yachting, like sailing, is surrounded by hundreds of superstitions. Interparus will talk about popular, but very harmful superstitions that many yachtsmen still believe in.

We all know that sailors are superstitious people. From an experienced sailor you can hear dozens of superstitions. Some of these maritime superstitions are quite harmless, such as the recommendation to only step on board with your right foot. Others can be not only meaningless, but also harmful, especially for the psychological state of the yachtsman.

Never change the name of a yacht!

According to rumors, changing the name of the boat spells trouble for the skipper and crew. Changing the name of the yacht will anger Poseidon (Neptune) and you will face failure at sea. You can often hear this and successfully ruin your mood.

Today, changing the name of a yacht is common. Especially when it comes to buying a used boat. The previous owner gave the boat a completely absurd name, so why not change it to a sweet one?

Another example: shipyards often launch sailing superyachts under working titles that make no sense at all. The yacht owner then gives the chosen name and secures it legally. And for some reason these yachts don’t sink.

We talked about the history of some sea superstitions in this article:

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The origins of sea superstitions

Woman on board a yacht in trouble

This myth, which has its roots in the distant past, today seems like absolute nonsense. Women in 2024 will not only successfully commit solo trips around the world, but also win regattaswhile demonstrating impressive yacht handling skills and enjoying the sailing experience.

We don’t go to sea on Monday

This sign also has no logical basis. Choosing the "wrong" day of the week, such as Monday, has traditionally been considered a harbinger of trouble for the team.

Modern yachtsmen, however, base their decisions on weather conditions and the readiness of the yacht and crew. It is important to understand that there are no “bad” days to go to sea. Lack of preparation and superstition are what can really become a problem.

Dolphins mean good luck, sharks mean trouble

The inhabitants of the depths are an important part of marine and yachting folklore. So, it is believed that noticing a dolphin is good, the main thing is to greet it. With sharks, the situation is the opposite: allegedly meeting with sharks does not bode well or is even a harbinger of death.

Neither the first nor the second statement has anything to do with reality. Sharks, like dolphins, are common representatives of marine fauna, and their appearance is determined solely by the region of your voyage, and not by superstition.

Find out more about amazing sharks:

Popular culture has played a role, in which dolphins are positioned as human friends and practically intelligent animals, and sharks as “monstrous monsters” ready to eat anything that moves.

What you have to watch out for are killer whales. Killer whales have become a real scourge for yachtsmen in the last few years. We recommend that you read this material to learn what to do if you encounter a killer whale

No cats on board

Despite the fact that a few centuries ago cats, like women, were considered harbingers of misfortune on board, over time views on this issue have changed significantly.

Today cats are reliable companions on yachts and other vessels. They not only purr, adding coziness, but also help get rid of pests. In most cases, cats and dogs become full-fledged participants in the sea adventures of their owners.

A little story for those who want to place a cat on their yacht:

Red dawn is not good

A bonus superstition that can be useful to yachtsmen in practice. Many sailors take weather “omens” very seriously. There is a belief that if the evening sky and sun are red, this portends good weather, but a red dawn can spell trouble.

This is one of the few superstitions that has a scientific basis. During the dawn hours, sunlight travels a greater distance through the atmosphere than at noon, and may encounter clouds of water vapor or dust on its way far to the east.

The blue part of the light spectrum dissipates faster, leaving visible red, which may indicate approaching clouds or fog from the east. Therefore, a red dawn may portend bad weather.

It is important to emphasize the word “may” rather than “predict” as other weather data must also be taken into account. We recommend that you always check the weather forecast to better prepare for sea conditions.