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Fair Winds and Following Seas

Posted by CPO Burns on April 12, 2011 at 09:08

In response to "Fair Winds and Following Seas".

Those who guessed the "Fair Winds" portion are correct. 'Fair winds' have been important ever since the first sail. The second half is not so obvious. Note that many nautical terms are derived from the farm since many a seaman was farm raised. Any dirt farmer knows what a fallow is. It is a shallow trench or depression seen after the harvest. A fallow sea is a calm sea. The expression originally was "FAIR WINDS AND FALLOWING SEAS." A sort of God's speed and smooth sailing. You heard it from a retired sailor.

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