This weekend I came afresh across the notion that setting sail on a Friday is bad luck. I had heard this before of course, but must have locked it out of my conscience because when I checked my logbook this morning I noted that the most substantial voyage I have ever undertaken, my singlehanded transatlantic, set sail on Friday the 7th of December 2007. I am extremely glad that I didn’t think of this while I was still at sea on that crossing. It would have made me even more uncomfortable than the time I nearly went overboard whilst trying to save my St Christopher’s medal and chain.
If you’re interested in the Friday sailing superstition then there is an excellent entry in the Practical Encyclopedia of Boating by John Vigor.
