Glossary Archive

The direction from which the wind is blowing, or the side of a vessel or object that faces into the wind. Windward is a crucial concept that helps sailors and mariners understand wind direction relative to their vessel. The windward side is the side that faces into the wind, as opposed to the leeward side,...

The RYA Wingfoiling First Flights course is designed for those new to wingfoiling. Participants learn how to handle the wing, balance on a foil board, and achieve their first flights. The course focuses on safety, controlling lift, and transitioning from displacement to foiling. By the end, participants will have experienced the thrill of foiling and...

The RYA Wingfoiling Sustained Flights course is for those who have mastered the basics of wingfoiling and want to focus on continuous flight. Participants refine their balance, learn to manage higher speeds, and practice advanced transitions while foiling. Equipment tuning and safety in dynamic conditions are also covered. By the end, participants will have the...

Flag semaphore indicating the letter W.

International Morse Code sequence representing the letter W.

An intergovernmental organization with a membership of 191 Member States and Territories that works to facilitate international cooperation in the field of meteorology, climatology, hydrology, and geophysical sciences.  The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for promoting international cooperation in the field of meteorology, climatology, hydrology, and related...

The Working end of a rope refers to the part of the rope that is actively being used for a specific task, such as tying a knot, securing a line to a cleat, or hoisting a sail. The working end is the portion of the rope that is manipulated, pulled, or adjusted during the operation,...

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...

An intergovernmental organization with a membership of 191 Member States and Territories that works to facilitate international cooperation in the field of meteorology, climatology, hydrology, and geophysical sciences.  The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for promoting international cooperation in the field of meteorology, climatology, hydrology, and related...

World Sailing, formerly known as the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), is the governing body for the sport of sailing worldwide. Headquartered in London, World Sailing plays a pivotal role in promoting and regulating sailing on a global scale. Sailing, a sport that combines the thrill of competition with the beauty of nature, has a rich...