Talk:Sailing By

Rumour section
''Sailing By is played at a slow tempo with one bass note per bar in waltz time. During the third repeat of the verse, played after a short eight-bar chorus, the bass player continues as if the 16 bar chorus is playing and chokes the bum note he fingers. In the next bar no bass note is played as he fumbles for his position on the neck, then resumes correctly in the third bar. It was believed during the Cold War that a fully correct version would be played when the ballon was going up, giving the intelligence to Navy shipping without a word or encrypted message being necessary.''

This section is potentially interesting, but needs to be cited by a reputable source to warrant inclusion. Rob 22:58, 11 April 2007 (UTC)

It was also alleged in a reading of a fictional 'Book At Bedtime' book whose title escapes me that the melody contained coded instruction for the British nuclear deterrent submarine fleet. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.169.47.158 (talk) 05:51, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

Dates
The introduction says the tune was composed in 1963. Perhaps we could clarify when it was first broadcast. If it has in fact been in constant use since 1963 this might be of interest to readers. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.238.128.106 (talk) 23:53, 27 October 2010 (UTC)

In this CD description "Sailing By –The Ronald Binge Collection" It is said to be used since 1973   — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2.2.250.7 (talk) 01:33, 25 June 2011 (UTC)

Still in use?
There was an article in the New York Times today discussing the Shipping Forecast. It failed to mention Sailing By so I checked. No music, merely an announcement.

Is it still in use before any of the broadcasts? If not, when did the BBC stop using it? Jhlister (talk) 02:07, 15 February 2023 (UTC)