Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

The Ship In Full Sail

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

THE SHIP IN FULL SAIL (J5x32) 5C set Bill Forbes Craigievar Book 2

1- 2 1s and 3s cross down 1 place RH (1M/3M face down to next Lady and 1L/3L face up to Man above while 2L faces 5M)
3- 6 All set, 2L/5M stand as others ¾ turn RH to lines across (1L between 2s face down, 3M between 5s face up, 1M+3L between 4s)
7- 8 Top and bottom lines set as centre 4 Balance-in-Line
9-16 1s and 3s turn to right and dance reels across (reels of 3 at ends and reel of 4 in middle), 1s and 3s end facing their 2nd corners (LSh to LSh)
17-24 1s and 3s set to 2nd corner and turn inwards to face partner's 2nd corner and set, rotate clockwise to face partner's 1st corner and set and turn about to set to own 1st corner
25-32 All dance RH across (1L with 2s, 1M+3L with 4s and 3M with 5s), 1s and 3s turn partners LH and cast down 1 place

(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)


The Ship in Full Sail
Bill Forbes Craigievar Book 2
Jig 5 x 32 bars 5 Couple Repeat 5 Couple Set Longwise Set

  1-2   1s 3s cross down one place finishing with Mn (except 5M) facing down, Ls (except 2L) facing up;

  3-4   all set;

  5-6   all except 2L 5M turn the person facing ¾ by the right (finishing 2M1L2L facing down, 4M3L1M4L facing Ls down Mn up, 5M3M5L facing up);

  7-8   2M1L2L set facing down WHILE 4M3L1M4L balance WHILE 5M3M5L set facing up;

  9-16 2M1L2L reel of 3 across WHILE 4M3L1M4L reel of 4 across WHILE 5M3M5L reel of 3 across, finishing with 1s 3s taking left hands and facing second corners;

17-18 1s 3s set to second corners, changing hands to face partners' second corners;

19-20 1s 3s set to partners' second corners turning ¼ by the right to face partners' first corners;

21-22 1s 3s set to partners' first corners, changing hands to face own first corners;

23-24 1s 3s set to own first corners;

25-28 2s1L 1M4L3L4M 3M5s right hands across;

29-32 1s 3s turn by the left and cast one place.

(MAXICRIB. Scottish country dancing instructions compiled by Reuben Freemantle)


Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams


Dance Instruction Videos

The Ship In Full Sail - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video

Dance Information

A "ship in full sail" denotes a maritime scene where a vessel is sailing with all its sails extended and caught by the wind.

This phrase describes the picturesque image of a ship navigating the open waters, propelled forward by the billowing canvas of its fully unfurled sails. It conveys a sense of movement, freedom, and the inherent beauty of a sailing ship harnessing the power of the wind for propulsion.

Ship In Full Sail
A Ship In Full Sail


Image copyright Cruadin.

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