Friday the 13th, whistling on the bridge, and green bananas: maritime superstitions sailors still believe in

Hey seafarers! You'd think it's 2026, satellite navigators, Starlink in the middle of the ocean. But step aboard any ship — maritime superstitions are alive and well. Even cynical captains sometimes follow rules that landlubbers find absurd.

The classic one is: don't whistle on a vessel. Whistle on the deck or bridge and you'll instantly get it from the bosun: "Don't whistle — you'll summon a storm!". Back on sailing ships, commands were given by the boatswain's pipe, and extra whistling created confusion. Another rule: don't point your finger at the sky or in the direction the ship is heading. On some vessels (especially Asian ones), there's no cabin or deck number 13. And on old-school American ships, they look askance at bananas — considered bad luck and cause of breakdowns.

How do you feel about these superstitions? Silly prejudices, or have you noticed that setting out on an "unlucky" day ruins a contract? What do they observe on your ship?