Marconi rig?

[chas]

I am reading an american book on sailing and the author uses the expression "Marconi" rig. Unfortunatly there is not a picture of the boat. He also uses "Bermudian", which is what I thought a Marconi was. Is there any difference between the two?

While I am at it, does anyone know the origin of "vang"? It sounds vaguely Saxon to me.

[Mirelle]

On a point of pure pedantry, I believe that the term "marconi rig" was first used, more or less as a joke, about the type of one piece mainmast for gaff rig, with the topmast socketed into the head of the lowermast, used briefly by the Big Class racing cutters in the 1920's before they converted to Bermudian rig, and the reference is to the amount of rigging needed to hold the tall mast up, which resembled the sort of rigging used on radio masts.

The term was carried over into Bermudian rig, which needs an equally tall mast or even taller, so really the terms are interchangeable.

<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?

[thewetone]

Vang - Noun - Nautical
1/ A rope or tackle extended from the boom of a fore-and-aft mainsail to a deck fitting of a vessel when running, in order to keep the boom from riding up.
2/ A guy extending from the end of a gaff to a vessel's rail on each side, used for steadying the gaff.

!8th Century from the Dutch vangen meaning to catch

Thank you Mr Collins

<hr width=100% size=1>Randy

Once the avalanche has started, it's too late for the pebbles to vote

[chas]

Thank you both - now all is clear!

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[thewetone]

Vang - Noun - Nautical
1/ A rope or tackle extended from the boom of a fore-and-aft mainsail to a deck fitting of a vessel when running, in order to keep the boom from riding up.
2/ A guy extending from the end of a gaff to a vessel's rail on each side, used for steadying the gaff.

18th Century from the Dutch vangen meaning to catch

Thank you Mr Collins

<hr width=100% size=1>Randy

Once the avalanche has started, it's too late for the pebbles to vote

[Cornishman]

Most writers today spell the word Bermudan, the "i" going out of fashion many years ago.

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[jimi]

Goodness gracious me! That'll upset the rsh!

<hr width=100% size=1>.. when's that again, but ..

[chas]

Thank you, cornshman and jm. Wll try to rememeber that.

[Cornishman]

Don't you mean goodness gracous? It is only the "i" which has been dropped, not the "I", so the Irsh shouldn't be too upset and we can always call the Scottsh Scotch can't we?

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[Aja]

You could try. Jimi - I'll hold your jacket....


Donald

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[thewetone]

Being Irsh....you can call me anything you like except late for opening time and dinner

<hr width=100% size=1>Randy

Once the avalanche has started, it's too late for the pebbles to vote

[MainlySteam]

I had the opposite problem recently - I have a client in Bermuda who recently took the opportunity to ask me to kindly remember that they are Bermudians, not Bermudans as I was in the habit of calling them. 'tis a confusing world.

John

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[whiskerstay]

Glad this has been cleared up - I always used "Bermudian" (usually with regard to the rig) but was starting to wonder... I can now be pedantic with confidence!

/&lt;

<hr width=100% size=1>"Stop mucking about, darling, and get the bloody mud weight over."

[chas]

Glad to hear it as I am a great believer in defending the language of freedom from those in the land of the free.

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[peterb]

As in Canadan, no doubt.

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