My wife and daughter have no problem with "helmsman" (and I feel sorry for those that do) but there is an alternative, though archaic: TIMONEER. I never heard the word until reading Patrick O'Brian, but it does mean helmsman and is in the Oxford English Dictionary.
I can tell from the wording in some postings that there are many POB fans among CD owners. If you haven't tried him, try "Master and Commander". It takes a few chapters to get into his English style of prose but the rewards are 20 great books. There's also a cook book and guides to the old Royal Navy.
Fred Adame
CD-31 Astrea
fnav@earthlink.net
Alternate for helmsman
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