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  3. Ships, Sailing, Maritime

porter plus de toile

English translation: carry more sail

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:porter plus de toile
English translation:carry more sail
Entered by: Steve Melling

14:01 Nov 9, 2008
French to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Ships, Sailing, Maritime / yachts
French term or phrase: porter plus de toile
Please see my other question for context.

"Les rares cas de figure où la main du skipper reste indispensable c’est par petit temps (jusqu’à cinq nœuds de vent) et par temps variable (comme au passage d’un grain), ou par vent arrière dans les grands surfs dans les mers du sud quand on peut **porter plus de toile** en barrant. "
Steve Melling
France
Local time: 18:25
carry more sail
Explanation:
With human judgment and instant steering, more sail can be put up than if an automatic pilot is in control. Presumably the auto pilot requires a greater safety margin (less sail aloft than could actually be carried at a given moment), given that it cannot necessarily react so quickly to changes or even predict or "feel" the squall that is about to hit.

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Note added at 6 hrs (2008-11-09 20:52:56 GMT)
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As translation of individual words goes, yes, "canvas" is more precise.

But while "ship + sea + carry more canvas" gets 36 ghits, the same combination with "sail" gets 162. And while "mer + porter plus de voile" does get 1 ghit, the same with "toile" gets 40. So it's a matter of matching the more common phrases, surely, rather than matching word on word.
Selected response from:

Bourth (X)
Local time: 18:25
Grading comment
Used this, thank you.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +6carry more sail
Bourth (X)
5 +2carry more canvas
Graham macLachlan


  

Answers


5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +2
carry more canvas


Explanation:
although Bourth is quite right as to the meaning of the phrase, I think "canvas" is a more appropriate translation of "toile" in the context.

... races off Sandy Hook next October the American yacht will be more heavily sparred and will carry more canvas than she has had in any race this season. ...
query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20817FF3A5416738DDDAA0A94D0405...

Graham macLachlan
Local time: 18:25
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 352

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jack Dunwell: Bang on G. What a pleasure it is to be sure! Actually, there's romance in "piling on canvas", I think
12 hrs
  -> Thanks fourth, not that Bourth is in anyway wrong...
agree  Sandra Mouton: I prefer 'canvas' which sounds more 'couleur locale' to my ear
13 hrs
  -> yes it's entirely subjective, thanks
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
carry more sail


Explanation:
With human judgment and instant steering, more sail can be put up than if an automatic pilot is in control. Presumably the auto pilot requires a greater safety margin (less sail aloft than could actually be carried at a given moment), given that it cannot necessarily react so quickly to changes or even predict or "feel" the squall that is about to hit.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2008-11-09 20:52:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

As translation of individual words goes, yes, "canvas" is more precise.

But while "ship + sea + carry more canvas" gets 36 ghits, the same combination with "sail" gets 162. And while "mer + porter plus de voile" does get 1 ghit, the same with "toile" gets 40. So it's a matter of matching the more common phrases, surely, rather than matching word on word.

Bourth (X)
Local time: 18:25
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 142
Grading comment
Used this, thank you.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Drmanu49
10 mins
agree  Tony M: Aye, Aye, Skipper!
32 mins
agree  Terry Richards
45 mins
agree  Michael GREEN
2 hrs
agree  Graham macLachlan: although I think "canvas" is a more precise translation of "toile"
5 hrs
  -> Yes but ... see above.
agree  GILLES MEUNIER
14 hrs
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