Superstitions: Orca and Painter

Never Say P*G – The Book of Sailors’ Superstitions is the nautical reference book you never knew you needed. Compiled by R. Bruce MacDonald, he goes through the alphabet detailing on what provides good and bad luck at sea. Here’s a sampling from O and P:

Orca
The orca, or killer whale, was “regarded in Christian folklore as a symbol of the evil, the sea creature thought able to lure fish into its maw by wafting its sweet breath over its prey … it was believed that the devil lured folk into sin by the same means.”

Painter
If a knot is found in the painter – the line that is attached to a small boat and is used for tying up or towing – before casting off, it will be an unhappy voyage. This is because it is a witch’s knot and, therefore, a hex has been put on the boat.

For more sage advice, click here.