full and by or full and buoy

[albertliss1935]

when I was at sea in the early 1950s I sailed with 2 old timers in there 60s who had both been in sailing ships and when ever I asked them how they where keeping one would say Im full and by and the other woud say Im full and buoy when I asked them what this meant they told me when a sailing ship had the wind on her quarter and the sails where full of wind they would say shes full and buoy then they would argue with each other the other old timer would say its not full and buoy its full and by I was wandering if any one on the site knows the answer is it full and by or full and buoy.

[Keith at Tregenna]

What I can say is thanks for sharing and I am certain many may add to and continue your post / request / valuable input etc.

So much is and will become lost forever without such Maritime Gems.

Thanks K.

[Don Rafferty]

I think it's full and bye - sailing as close to the wind as you can and getting the best out of the wind.

[John Cassels]

I think it's full and bye - sailing as close to the wind as you can and getting the best out of the wind.

That's correct Don.

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmates, its full and bye on a leeway tack, but I will check up in my old seamans' hand book chambers navigation 1911

[Bob Hollis]

Don, you are correct the old sailors were wrong in stating the wind was from the quarter.

"Full and bye" is an old nautical term. When the helmsman reported the ship to be full and bye, he meant the vessel was making the most efficent use of the sails as the vessel proceeded "close-hauled," or as near into the wind as possible.

Bob