From a 1925 edition of the Toronto Star newspaper. This image was lifted from the Classic International-14 blog. These gentlemen were racing the L.S.S.A 14, the precursor to the International 14 in Canada.
You raise an interesting point. How did a word usually defined as "a brisk or long walk" come to be associated with statically suspending your upper torso to balance a small sailboat. Looking up the etymology of the word "hike", it is a recent word to the English language, first appearing in 1809. There is no indication that "hike" was originally spelled as "hyke" so I'm not sure how this spelling came about. "Hike" also means to hold or lift up so this other definition may be the one applied to sailing.
Bald but my eyebrows are growing at a prolific rate. Sailed Windmills and Y-Flyers in the 1960's. Founded Miami University (OH) sailing team. Sailed International 14's and Lasers in the 1970's. Sailed International Canoes in the 1980's to mid 1990's. Sailed Classic Moths since 2002. Enjoy boatbuilding though I'm very, very slow at it (the Internet doesn't help matters). Name in real life: Rod Mincher
After choosing this username (Tweezer is the name of my Classic Moth), further research on the Internet turned up that Tweezerman is a corporate name for a line of pedicure products. Let me emphasize that I do not work for, nor endorse these products.
4 comments:
Any significance to the spelling of hyke?
I didn't know Knute Rockne was a sailor!
I think we should still wear hats like that to go sailing.
my2fish
You raise an interesting point. How did a word usually defined as "a brisk or long walk" come to be associated with statically suspending your upper torso to balance a small sailboat. Looking up the etymology of the word "hike", it is a recent word to the English language, first appearing in 1809. There is no indication that "hike" was originally spelled as "hyke" so I'm not sure how this spelling came about. "Hike" also means to hold or lift up so this other definition may be the one applied to sailing.
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