“It’s him!” one of the young men yelled up at the bridge of the ship. “It’s that kid they were searching for up off Ventura.” He looked back down at David. “They had your picture in the paper and everything. Man, you are one heck of a distance from where they looked. They finally gave you up for dead, you know that?”
1 her: boats and ships are typically referred to using female pronouns
2 tacking: a sailing technique used to change the boat’s direction
3 six knots: a speed equivalent to six miles per hour when sailing
4 helm: steering wheel
What does the young man mean when he says, “They finally gave you up for dead, you know that?”
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The passage reflects a moment of recognition, where someone identifies a missing person, David, while aboard a ship. The young man expresses surprise and concern for David’s well-being, referring to how the search efforts had concluded, believing David to be lost.
Now, addressing your specific items:
1. This is true and a traditional maritime practice to refer to ships in the female form.
2. Tacking is indeed a maneuver in sailing that helps to change direction by sailing at an angle to the wind.
3. Six knots is a common measure for nautical speed, equivalent to six nautical miles per hour, not miles per hour.
4. The helm refers to the steering mechanism on a ship or boat, often considered the “wheel” that navigates its course.
If you have more questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask!