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CLEAR Temp: 90 °F Wind: NW at 10 mph Friday, August 29, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend August 11, 2003 Since You Asked Black Pearl isn’t your run-of-the- mill ship We just saw the new movie "Pirates of the Caribbean," and it was pretty good. But we wondered about some of the sailing. The Black Pearl, the pirate ship, sails like nobody’s business even though its sails are full of holes. In one scene, a British officer on another ship tells the mate to "bring her about" even though the ship is riding at anchor in the harbor. What’s up with that? — Joshua S., Medford. Let us get this straight, Josh. You’ve got guys who walk on the bottom of the ocean, pirates changed by moonlight into skeletons, zombies who can’t be killed, and you’re asking us about the sailing maneuvers? But yes, the maneuver you mention makes no sense. For a sailing vessel to come about, or change course while sailing upwind, the wind must cross her bow, and the sheets, or lines controlling the sails, made fast on the leeward, or downwind, side. This happens in the normal sense only when she’s making headway under sail. Advertisement As for the Black Pearl’s amazing abilities, the scientific explanation is simple: They result from an ancient pirate curse. Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to [email protected] . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times