This is probably a YART but having almost finished Master and Commander by Patrick O' Brian and being entirely bewildered and bemused by the sailing terminology, what's the best way to understand what's actually happening? It took me a 150 pages or so to understand that larboard is what we nowadays call port. Someone told me to treat it like modern poetry ie just appreciate the form and rhythm, but I likes to understand me poetry! A good visual encyclopaedia like the Dorling Kindersley one is great but only gets me half way there.

jj