HMS Friday is an urban legend concerning a disastrous attempt by the Royal Navy to dispel the superstition against sailing on a Friday. While widely circulated the story is in fact untrue, and there was never a ship named HMS Friday. The details of the story vary, but it usually follows this form: Sometime in the 19th century, the Royal Navy attempted to finally dispel the old superstition among sailors that beginning a voyage on a Friday was certain to bring bad luck.

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  • HMS Friday is an urban legend concerning a disastrous attempt by the Royal Navy to dispel the superstition against sailing on a Friday. While widely circulated the story is in fact untrue, and there was never a ship named HMS Friday. The details of the story vary, but it usually follows this form: Sometime in the 19th century, the Royal Navy attempted to finally dispel the old superstition among sailors that beginning a voyage on a Friday was certain to bring bad luck. To demonstrate the falseness of this belief, they decided to commission a ship named HMS Friday. Her keel was laid on a Friday, she was launched on a Friday, and she set sail on her maiden voyage on a Friday, under the command of a Captain James Friday. She was never seen or heard from again. This story, in numerous variations, is frequently recounted, often as fact. In fact, there has never been any Royal Navy ship of that name. It is unclear where the story originated; however, it seems to have gained in popularity after its recounting by comedian Dave Allen on his BBC television show “Dave Allen at Large”, first broadcast in the 1970’s.
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  • HMS Friday is an urban legend concerning a disastrous attempt by the Royal Navy to dispel the superstition against sailing on a Friday. While widely circulated the story is in fact untrue, and there was never a ship named HMS Friday. The details of the story vary, but it usually follows this form: Sometime in the 19th century, the Royal Navy attempted to finally dispel the old superstition among sailors that beginning a voyage on a Friday was certain to bring bad luck.
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  • HMS Friday
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