Why S/V Linda?

The process of naming something is rarely easy. Especially if you care about the end result. That’s certainly the case for a sea-going vessel. It should probably mean something to you. In the modern age of fiberglass boats that in so many ways all look very similar, it helps you stand out. And it’s how you identify yourself to other vessels over radio communications. That last one is surprisingly critical: Your vessel’s name should pass the telephone test.

The Telephone Test

“What’s the telephone test?” you might ask. A word passes the telephone test if someone can easily understand the word when spoken to them over the phone. The word does NOT pass if you have to repeat yourself, spell the word, or otherwise explain it.

Picture this: You’re calling in for pizza delivery and they ask for your name. You tell them, “My name is Janes.” It’s loud on their end; they are in a restaurant after all. And they hear you say “James.” Seems such a simple mistake, doesn’t it? And it’s surely not a big deal, they have your address and it’s just a pizza pie anyway.

Now imagine you’re on a sailboat which is experiencing a rather serious emergency. You call out on the radio for help, identifying your vessel by name:

Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan

This is Sailing Vessel Verisimilitude, Sailing Vessel Verisimilitude, Sailing Vessel Verisimilitude

We are located at [location information]

We are experiencing a fire onboard and are requesting assistance.

…

Vessels receiving your broadcast will likely have a much more difficult time with such a complex vessel name. Do you really want to burden responding vessel(s) with having to deal with that during an emergency?

So, the telephone test. Choose a name that is easy to remember, easy to speak, and easy to understand.

“Linda”

Finally, Scott’s mom was named Linda. She recently passed away in January 2022. We decided to memorialize her through our future sailboat.

Ironically, she absolutely hated sailing! 😆

But, she was loved and is deeply missed. This is one way we can continue to honor her.