Sailing and boating superstitions are beliefs mariners have passed down over centuries about what brings good or bad luck on the water. Common examples include never bringing bananas aboard, never whistling on a boat, never starting a voyage on a Friday and never renaming a vessel without a ceremony. Many began as practical warnings or cultural fears, and a few, like the red sky saying, even have a scientific basis.
It's the season for ghost stories and nautical-themed Halloween costumes, but on the water, spooky tales are a year-round tradition. Some boating superstitions date back hundreds of years, and plenty of captains, anglers and weekend boaters still observe them today.
Here are 10 of the most popular sailing and boating superstitions, where they came from and what's really behind them.
1. No Redheads Onboard
The superstition: Meeting a redhead on the way to the boat, or having one aboard, brings bad luck.
The origin: Many cultures considered red hair unlucky, and sailors likely carried that belief to sea. Another theory is that redheads were stereotyped as fiery, hot-tempered personalities, which nobody wanted on a small crew in tight quarters.
2. No Women Onboard
The superstition: Women on a ship will anger the sea and bring a dangerous voyage.
The origin: Ancient mariners believed women were a distraction to the crew and could stir up rough waters. The irony is hard to miss: boats have long been named after women, and female figureheads once decorated the bow of many vessels. Today, of course, women captain, crew and race boats of every size.
Read Next: Resources for Women in Boating
3. Bananas Are Banned
The superstition: Bananas on board mean bad luck, or even a doomed trip.
The origin: A few explanations exist, but one is rooted in fact. Bananas are known hiding places for spiders, and some have dangerous bites. Centuries ago, ships carried bananas from tropical islands, and crews sometimes discovered those unwelcome stowaways the hard way.
4. Always Step Onto a Boat With Your Right Foot
The superstition: Boarding with your left foot invites is a bad omen for the whole journey.
The origin: The right side has long been associated with good fortune across many cultures, while the left was considered unlucky.
5. No Whistling
The superstition: Whistling on a boat will stir up the wind and bring rough seas.
The origin: Sailors believed that whistling could "call" the wind. That's welcome when you're becalmed, but not when you're trying to avoid a storm, so it became safest to keep quiet.
6. Never Start a Voyage on a Friday
The superstition: A trip that begins on a Friday is doomed.
The origin: Some trace this to the old practice of avoiding work on the Sabbath. Due to this, many would wait to set sail on another day.
7. Never Change a Boat's Name
The superstition: Renaming a vessel brings bad luck that follows you for as long as you own it.
The origin: According to legend, Poseidon keeps a record of every vessel's name. There is a fix, though: a proper renaming ceremony is said to purge the old name from his book and his memory.
Read Next: Tips for Renaming Your Boat
8. Don't Say "Goodbye" When Departing
The superstition: Saying goodbye as you leave the dock means you won't return.
The origin: Ancient mariners believed certain words could doom a voyage and keep a ship from reaching shore again. The belief remains common among captains and fishermen. Think of it like telling an actor to "break a leg" instead of "good luck."
9. Cats Are Good Omens
The superstition: A cat aboard brings good luck and a safe trip.
The origin: Finally, a positive one. Cats were valued on trading ships because they hunted rats, which were attracted to cargo, spread disease and gnawed on ropes. A good ship's cat protected both the food supply and the rigging.
Read Next: Tips for Boating with Cats
10. "Red Sky at Night, Sailor's Delight; Red Sky in Morning, Sailors Take Warning"
The superstition: A red sunset means fair weather ahead, while a red sunrise signals a storm.
The origin: This is the one superstition with real meteorology behind it, and the saying dates back to biblical times. A red sky at sunset suggests high pressure and stable air moving in from the west. A red sky at dawn can indicate that a storm system is approaching, with rain and possibly rough seas.
Are Boating Superstitions Real?
Most boating superstitions are folklore, not fact, but a few have practical roots: bananas and spiders, cats and rats, and red skies and weather patterns. Some boaters follow a few of them just to be safe.
Whether you're a believer or a skeptic, the best luck on the water comes from preparation: check the forecast, run your safety checklist and take a boating course.
Planning a spooky outing? See our tips for throwing a Halloween party on a boat.
Boating and Sailing Superstitions: Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the most famous sailing superstition?
A: The most famous sailing superstition is probably "red sky at night, sailor's delight; red sky in morning, sailors take warning." It's also one of the few with a scientific basis, since red skies reflect high or low-pressure systems.
Q: Why are bananas considered bad luck on boats?
A: One explanation is that bananas often hid spiders, some with dangerous bites, on ships that carried them from tropical islands. Over time, bananas became a symbol of bad luck for sailors and fishermen.
Q: Is it really bad luck to rename a boat?
A: According to maritime legend, yes, unless you perform a renaming ceremony. The tradition says Poseidon keeps a record of every boat's name, and the ceremony removes the old name from it so the new one can start with a clean slate.
Originally published in October 2019. Updated in October 2026.
