Glossary Archive

A standard in satellite-derived positions. Charts will indicate if they are calibrated to WGS84 or another system. WGS84 is the standard adopted by most cartographers for GNSS (GPS) positions. Established and maintained by the United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency since 1984. The NGIA revised it in 2014, however, it retains the reference WGS84. Its pre-cursers were...

The wheel is used to steer the vessel. This yacht has two wheels so that the helmsman or woman has a clear view up either side of the vessel.

To bind the end of a rope with small cord or twine to prevent it from fraying. Whipping is a traditional and essential technique in ropework, particularly in the maritime world, where ropes and lines are frequently exposed to harsh conditions that can cause fraying or unraveling. The process involves tightly wrapping a smaller cord,...

Light spar to hold out the clew of a headsail when running, particularly when goosewinged

Pronounced: WISS-key The term for the letter W in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet.

Breaking waves with foamy crest. Not surf breaking on the shore

Beaufort Scale – Force 10 A Whole Gale is a term used in meteorology to describe a wind of force 10 on the Beaufort scale, corresponding to sustained winds of 48-55 knots (55-63 mph or 89-102 km/h). Whole Gales are considered very strong winds that can cause significant damage to ships and coastal areas. [wpdm_package id='2729']

Sea area of the Met Office Shipping Forecast. Covers the Solent and waters around the Isle of Wight off southern England. After the Isle of Wight (Old English “Wiht”), Wight sees southwest winds of Force 4–6 and confused seas in the Solent’s strong tidal races. An unprecedented calm during the 1976 drought highlighted its normally...

A mechanical device used on boats to haul in or let out heavy loads, typically consisting of a drum or spool around which a rope, cable, or chain is wound. A winch is an essential piece of equipment on many vessels, particularly sailboats and larger motorboats, where it is used to manage the tension and...

A detachable lever used to operate a winch, providing mechanical advantage for tightening or loosening lines on a sailing vessel. A winch handle is an essential tool on sailing boats, designed to fit into the top of a winch, which is a mechanical device used to tension or ease lines, such as sheets or halyards....