Sailing Expressions

San Francisco has the America's Cup sailing races coming up soon, and local newspaper writer Al Saracevic came up with an article listing various expressions with their origins from the world of sailing and sea faring.  http://blog.sfgate.com/saracevic/2013/06/30/sailing-mother-of-cliches/

Al describes the origins of often used phrases such as

• know the ropes
• over a barrel
• three sheets to the wind

Others that come to mind would be, "you put the wind in my sails," meaning someone or something has given you energy, new enthusiasm.

Also related to whaling is the exclamation, "There she blows!" meaning the sight of a faraway whale spout.  The whalers then must hastily pursue the Leviathan.  "There she blows!" may be used whenever a signal of some significance is spotted.