I’ve been re-reading a lot of the Aubrey-Maturin series lately, and this does sound like what it is. (And I apologise that it’s a little late.)
able-whackets
‘A popular sea-game with cards, wherein the loser is beaten over the palms of the hands with a handkerchief tightly twisted like a rope. Very popular with horny-fisted sailors.’ Smyth Sailor’s Word-bk.
Neh 