On: Tue, 18 Jan 2011 11:07:18 -0800, tracy pierce <[log in to unmask]>


> the interesting tangent: how do you spell con as in con a ship?

Either 'con' or 'conn' is acceptable. 'Conn' is the customary U.S.
usage, 'con' prevails in the Commonwealth navies.

'Con', the verb, is literally taken to mean 'control', nominally of
the ship's movements, although the word is claimed to descend from
the verb conduct.  The 'con', the noun, is either the central
control position or the responsibility of command, depending on
context.

'Having the con' is having command of the watch on deck,
specifically over the quartermaster and helmsman. The con is
customarily held by the officer of the watch at sea unless
specifically relieved of that responsibility by the Captain or
Executive Officer through the utterance of the magic phrase: "I have
the con."

That phrase is also used to signify the formal transfer of
responsibility to the relieving officer of the watch after receiving
the sitrep from the current OOW.

At least, so I recall from that distant time when such things mattered.

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