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The original was posted on /r/sailing by /u/lostlucylocket on 2025-07-14 09:17:07+00:00.
I'm having a discussion with my brothers and father about whether or not this phrase can be used in English (we are not native English speakers), when referring to a ship with all its sails set. Obviously it is not the correct terminology, but does it make sense at all?
The discussion began after we watched Master and Commander, and someone orders "Foretop man, let fly!" which I took to mean "Foretop man, set/unfold the sail". But my father thinks they were referring to a flag, even though the captain also just told another boy to "run up the colours".
I hope someone can help us settle this!
(sidenote, my father is a hobbyist boater and sails what is known as a nordic 'snekke', I think the English term is double ender? But none of us are experts on ships, boats or sails at all.)
Edit: google was not helpful at all, when I search any variation of 'flying sails' it gives me info about the specific type of sail known as a flying sail.