Fisherman superstitions have been passed down through generations. So we take a look at some of the five most weird and wonderful myths!

1. Never say "rabbit" on a boat

A rabbit's foot may bring luck on dry land, but never mention the R-word once you're out at sea. The myth is rumoured to have started because the Devil could disguise himself as a rabbit.

Also, many West Country seamen won't say church, pig, fox or cat!

2. It is bad luck to rename your boat

Legend has it that the name of every single vessel is recorded in the Ledger of the Deep and is known personally to Poseidon, or Neptune, God of the sea. Changing a boat’s name without consulting the Gods is said to invoke their wrath.

For those who are desperate to rename their boat – who ironically could be looking to change for superstitious reasons – a renaming ceremony must be carried out to inform the gods, which includes making a sacrifice of champagne or rum to the sea.

This is so ingrained in our culture that we see it echoed in official christenings of ships, with royals and statesmen breaking champagne or whisky bottles on the hull of a newly named vessel to invite good luck.

3. Bananas on board are a bad omen

This superstition dates back to the 1700s, when most ships carrying cargoes of bananas vanished at sea.

A theory to this myth suggests that poisonous spiders would be living in the bunches of fruit and that sailors would die from their bites.

4. A chicken and a pig will save you from drowning

Many sailors had a picture of a chicken and a pig tattooed on their feet in the belief this would save them from drowning.

The story goes that when boats capsized pigs and chicken were often the only survivors. This was due to them being held in wooden crates that could float, and would eventually drift to shore. People believed that God took pity on the animals because they could not swim, therefore protecting the animals from the fate of the sea.

5. Never whistle on a boat

Chances are that if you are whistling on a boat, you're going to be asked to stop. Legend has it that when you want to "call upon the wind" you whistle. So if you're on calm waters that last thing you want to do is encourage a rough sea breeze.

In more recent years however, sailors were asked not to whistle whilst onboard a Royal Navy ship due to the way orders were passed. Orders were given through the use of the Bos’un’s Call, a whistle that tells the crew their orders such as, to go aloft to make sail, or to arm their guns. So stopping sailors from whistling cut down on the confusion!

If you have any other sailing superstitions then make sure to email them into us at media@ceta.co.uk.

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