As a noun, one definition of fake <\/em>is: a coil of rope ready for running. As a verb, to fake (down)<\/em> means: to lay out rope in long flat fakes, each one overlapping the previous one, so that it is ready for running.[1]<\/p>\n Okay, now let\u2019s look at the word flake<\/em>: as a noun, one definition of flake <\/em>is a single turn or several turns of rope in a coil, more properly called a fake.<\/em> The term is controversial. In his standard work on knots, Clifford Ashely states that \u201cthe dictionary form of fake<\/em> is unknown at sea\u2026 that a flake<\/em> is a single turn in a coil, and that flaking<\/em> is coiling in various ways.\u201d On the other hand, reliable references declare that flake<\/em> is a mispronunciation of fake<\/em>. Rear Admiral Austin M. Knight, author of Knight\u2019s Modern Seamanship<\/em><\/strong>, 1941, uses only fake, which seems to be the choice for most 20th<\/sup> century sailors. As a verb, flake<\/em> is a variant of fake<\/em> which usually means coiling by forming a series of loose figure eights.[2]<\/a><\/p>\n [1] Reference: The Sailor\u2019s Illustrated Dictionary<\/em><\/strong>, Thompson Lenfestey, Pg. 159.[2]Reference: The Sailor\u2019s Illustrated Dictionary<\/em><\/strong>, Thompson Lenfestey, Pg. 169.<\/p>\n Note from Matt: Flake it or Fake it, your choice – but please take the time to\u00a0stow our sails properly\u00a0and help us make them last longer!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It\u2019s funny how these two terms came up so much over the last two days. Right on the heels of a lengthy instructor meeting discussion on encouraging our students and members on the proper method for \u201cflaking\u201d sails, the question … Continue reading ![\"Figure](\"https:\/\/tradewindssailing.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/flake.jpg\")
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