Sailors had a vested interest in encouraging the wind when they were becalmed. Scratching the mast of the ship was one method. An alternative method, though fraught with danger, was to whistle softly. Whistling loudly risked causing a gale. You could also pay the elements for a wind by tossing a coin overboard.
Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Sandra Kynes, author of several books, including The Herb Gardener's Essential Guide, Plant Magic, and the new Witches' Encyclopedia of Magical Plants, among many others.
Although a few old books...