Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 16, 2026

Fothering

Fothering refers in nautical contexts to covering a leak in a ship with a sail containing rope fibres to prevent it from sinking after being damaged. This was the technique used to help to refloat HMS Endeavour after she went aground on the Great Barrier Reef on 11 June 1770.

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Fothering refers in nautical contexts to covering a leak in a ship with a sail containing rope fibres to prevent it from sinking after being damaged. This was the technique used to help to refloat HMS Endeavour after she went aground on the Great Barrier Reef on 11 June 1770.12

Later, and more efficiently, a sail closely thrummed with yarns was used.3

References

References

  1. Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition 1989 "fother, 3"
  2. Banks, Joseph. "Banks' Journal: 12 June 1770". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 3 October 2008.
  3. The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea, edited by Peter Kemp