Fair Winds Nautical - Information

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"Above her head rustled the white sails, which seemed like great white wings"
' From Around the World in 80 Days '

Interesting Facts about Ships
Fastest Sailing Ships were the American clipper ships of the 1800's. They could travel 20 knots. Two of them, the Flying Cloud and the Andrew Jackson, sailed from New York City, around the tip of South America, to San Francisco in 89 days.

Fastest Transatlantic Crossing by a merchant ship was made in July, 1952, by the United States. The vessel sailed 2,942 miles from Ambrose Lightship at the entrance to New York Harbor to Bishop Rock Lighthouse at the western end of the English Channel in 3 days 10 hours 40 minutes. The United States traveled at an average speed of 35-59 knots, or about 41 land miles an hour.

Greatest Peacetime Ship Disaster occured in 1912 when the British liner Titanic struck an iceberg and sank with a loss of 1,517 lives.

A Few Nautical Terms
ABAFT means a position to the rear on a ship. For example, abaft the bow means back of the bow.
BRIDGE is the platform above the main deck from which a ship is steered and navigated.
BINNACLE is a stand near the steering wheel that holds a magnetic compass, compensating magnets, and a light.
BOW is the front of a ship.
CROW'S NEST is a lookout platform on a mast.
HOLD is the space below decks where cargo is stored.
LEE or LEEWARD means the direction towards which the wind is blowing across a ship. The lee side of a ship is the side away from the wind.
PORTHOLE is a round window in a ship's side, fitted with glass and metal covers.
RIGGING. The fixed ropes and wires holding the masts are called standing rigging. The movable ropes that operate booms are running rigging
SCUTTLE BUTT is a drinking fountain on a ship. It also means a ship's gossip.

"A nation which does not remember what it was yesterday, does not know what it is today, nor what it was trying to do. We are trying to do a futile thing if we do not know where we came from or what we have been about." 'Woodrow Wilson'

Origin of "Taps"
During the Civil War, in July 1862 when the Army of the Potomac was in camp, Brig. Gen. Daniel Butterfield summoned Pvt. Oliver Wilcox Norton, his brigade bugler, to his tent. Butterfield, who disliked the colorless "extinguish lights" call then in use, whistled a new tune and asked the bugler to sound it for him. After repeated trials and changing the time of some notes which were scribbled on the back of an envelope, the call was finally arranged to suit Gen. Butterfield and used for the first time that night. Pvt. Norton, who on several occasions, had sounded numerous new calls composed by his commander, recalled his experience of the origin of "Taps" years later: "One day in July 1862 when the Army of the Potomac was in camp at Harrison's Landing on the James River, Virginia, resting and recruiting from its losses in the seven days of battle before Richmond, Gen. Butterfield summoned the writer to his tent, and whistling some new tune, asked the bugler to sound it for him. This was done, not quite to his satisfaction at first, but after repeated trials, changing the time of some of the notes, which were scribbled on the back of an envelope, the call was finally arranged to suit the general. "He then ordered that it should be substituted in his brigade for the regulation "Taps" (extinguish lights) which was printed in the Tactics and used by the whole army. This was done for the first time that night. The next day buglers from nearby brigades came over to the camp of Butterfield's brigade to ask the meaning of this new call. They liked it, and copying the music, returned to their camps, but it was not until some time later, when generals of other commands had heard its melodious notes, that orders were issued, or permission given, to substitute it throughout the Army of the Potomac for the time-honored call which came down from West Point. In the western armies the regulation call was in use until the autumn of 1863. At that time the XI and XII Corps were detached from the Army of the Potomac and sent under command of Gen. Hooker to reinforce the Union Army at Chattanooga, Tenn. Through its use in these corps it became known in the western armies and was adopted by them. From that time, it became and remains to this day the official call for "Taps." It is printed in the present Tactics and is used throughout the U.S. Army, the National Guard, and all organizations of veteran soldiers. Gen. Butterfield, in composing this call and directing that it be used for "Taps" in his brigade, could not have foreseen its popularity and the use for another purpose into which it would grow. Today, whenever a man is buried with military honors anywhere in the United States, the ceremony is concluded by firing three volleys of musketry over the grave, and sounding with the trumpet or bugle "Put out the lights. Go to sleep"...There is something singularly beautiful and appropriate in the music of this wonderful call. Its strains are melancholy, yet full of rest and peace. Its echoes linger in the heart long after its tones have ceased to vibrate in the air."

No longer does it seem essential that people be geographically situated near the sea to enjoy the romance and history of Nautical related products. Folks recognizing how precious their time at home is, are embellishing their surroundings with a mix of items that have nostalgic value as well as beauty, and that just plain evoke good feelings. These are the type of items and atmosphere we hope to offer. We continue to add to our broadening 'nautical' focus, soon to include Men's Gifts, as well as home accessories including historical reproductions for the desk and wall. We are sure these new and innovative items will be of interest to even our most discriminating customer.

Store Location
124 N Hemlock / Cannon Beach, Oregon
Store Phone: (503) 436-1201
Office Fax: (503) 861-2587

Office & Warehouse (Mailing Address)
89989 Manion Dr.
Warrenton, Or 97146

We'd Like to Hear From You! Your Suggestions are Welcome!

International Signal Flags
The earliest code of signals appears to have been drawn up in the 19th Century. Since then, they have gone through numerous changes until the revision in 1927 by Great Britain , assisted by representatives of several other governments. This revisied International code includes 26 flags for each letter of the alphabet, the code and answering pennant, ten numerical flags and three substitutes (triangular flags for repeating letters or figures).