Whilst browsing the Marine History Information Exchange Group archives on the web one day I came across a thread discussing the 'whammy'. So here is a picture of one in its most seen working guise.

Wire was a lively beast and it disliked being turned up on the bitts so much that it was forever trying to jump off. So a ropeyarn, known as a whammy, was tied around the last cross or two to dissuade it from doing so. The picture is of a topping lift.

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