where did this come from?

[Canadageorge]

Just wondering, why is a trip to Jamaica called a "REACH"

[captaind]

Just a guess but.....

In patois "you reach?" means "did you get there/here?"

So I think that is something that was originally asked of a visitor by a Jamaican ....

Like "mi glad you reach" or "so you reach"

[yetta]

Sounds good to me Captain!! Mi soon reach!! And I cannot wait to reach!

[BR Mon]

A reach is a sailing term...If you catch a favoriable wind and can travel on a "broad reach" that is the fastest point of sail. " We made great distance and time on our last "reach"....".A head wind reuires one to tact several times to get to point B. This can double the distance required to arrive at your distination. Yes you can sail directly into the wind but it requires one to tact (zig zag) to get there. If you have a quartering head wind or a wind across the boat you can set the sail and the boat in a "broad reach" or a reach...My bet is this is where the term started....Yes I was a sailor but not a pirate....

[TizzyATX]

Interesting question....and responses. Never even thought to question that.

[Canadageorge]

The old Harry Belefonte song with the line "when I REACHED Jamaica I made a stop" came to mind but the sailing reference makes sense.

[TizzyATX]

I just figured it was a term that more "seasoned" travelers use instead of "Trip" hahaha

[captaind]

A reach is a sailing term...If you catch a favoriable wind and can travel on a "broad reach" that is the fastest point of sail. " We made great distance and time on our last "reach"....".A head wind reuires one to tact several times to get to point B. This can double the distance required to arrive at your distination. Yes you can sail directly into the wind but it requires one to tact (zig zag) to get there. If you have a quartering head wind or a wind across the boat you can set the sail and the boat in a "broad reach" or a reach...My bet is this is where the term started....Yes I was a sailor but not a pirate....

Having raced the Miami - MoBay race several time you don't start reaching until you enter the windward passage. Until that starboard turn it can be a beat.

BTW. There is no such maneuver as "tacking" It's called "coming about. It's one of the "trick" questions on the sailing endorsement test.

Captain D
Master unlimited (AGT) all routes
Master Sail 500 tons
Master Auxiliary Sail
Approved course instructor / examiner < 1,600 GT

[kim&betty]

au contraire mon frere

come about: To tack or change heading relative to the wind.

tacking: working to windward by sailing close-hauled on alternate courses so that the wind is first on one side of the boat, then on the other.

jibing: changing direction with the wind aft; to change from one tack to another by turning the stern through the wind; also spelled gybing.

[captaind]

au contraire mon frere

come about: To tack or change heading relative to the wind.

tacking: working to windward by sailing close-hauled on alternate courses so that the wind is first on one side of the boat, then on the other.

jibing: changing direction with the wind aft; to change from one tack to another by turning the stern through the wind; also spelled gybing.

I'm sure the USCG and the National Maritime Center who sets the standards for testing would be interested in that definition.
Notice that in describing the gybe it says to change from one tack to another. A tack is a point of sail representing which side of the vessel the wind comes from.
If you answered that a tack was a maneuver it would be marked as incorrect. Tack is a noun not a verb.