EdGordonRN wrote:

Hmph. I never knew that. Harden up. We were saying "head up." If we
were on a reach we would say, "head up a little" to change direction
into the wind and go close hauled. So, what does head up mean, then?

Not sure - it might mean the same thing, or it might mean the same as "luff
up" (point directly into the wind, such that the sails are flapping). Some
things seem to have more than one term, like "helm's a-lee" and "lee-o" for
a tack. My skipper usually says something like, "okay, lads, going now..."
(we're expected to know that our next maneuvre is a tack).

As long as you both understand what a term means, you'll be fine, but there
could be miscommunication if you ever sail with someone else - that's why
there are standard nautical terms.


--
Wally
www.forthsailing.com
www.wally.myby.co.uk