Physics question

[August]

Here's how the subject came up.

We were watching this BBC miniseries about a voyage to Australia set in the early 1800's. I forget it's name but the guy who starred in Jurassic park was in it.

Anyways, there's a scene where their ship is becalmed in the doldrums and just as night is falling they spot another ship off in the distance, also becalmed. It being too far away identify they were forced to prepare for battle in case it was French since, according to the 1st officer "the ships would naturally drift together eventually unless the wind picked up".

Now I said that sounded like a load of bovine feces to me but my friend swore it was a real phenomenon. Since he has a navy background and I most certainly do not, I felt out of my element to argue my opinion and figured that i'd ask you guys being the only group of experts in the subject that I knew.

So thanks everyone for your replies. Unless this additional information changes anything i think i'm gonna tell him he is full of it next time I see him.