Glossary Archive

A strong, cold, and dry northeasterly katabatic wind that blows from the land to the sea, particularly along the eastern Adriatic coast. The bora is a regional wind phenomenon most commonly associated with the Adriatic Sea, particularly affecting areas such as the Croatian and Montenegrin coastlines, as well as parts of Italy and Slovenia. It...

Short for boatswain, the Bosun is a senior crew member responsible for the vessel's maintenance, repair, and overall operation. The bosun oversees the deck crew, assigns tasks, and ensures all equipment and rigging are in good working order. They also play a key role in communicating orders between the captain and the deck crew.

The forward part of a vessel, designed to cut through the water and reduce resistance. The bow of a vessel is its frontmost section, typically shaped to minimise drag and allow the boat to move efficiently through the water. It is a critical part of a vessel's design, as its shape and structure influence the...

A rope used to secure the bow of a vessel to a dock or another fixed object. A bow line is a critical part of a vessel's mooring system, specifically designed to secure the front (bow) of the boat to a dock, pier, or another vessel. This line prevents the boat's bow from drifting away...

A type of knot used to form a fixed loop at the end of a rope, commonly employed in maritime settings for securing or towing. The bowline is one of the most widely used and trusted knots in the maritime world due to its reliability and ease of untying, even after being subjected to a...

A mooring line that runs diagonally from the bow of a vessel to a fixed point on a dock, used to control forward and backward movement while berthed. A bow spring is an essential mooring line used in securing a vessel to a dock or quay. Unlike standard bow lines, which are typically fastened perpendicular...

A spar projecting from the bow used to attach the tack of some headsails, particularly asymmetric spinnakers

Pronounced: BRAH-voh The term for the letter B in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet.

A structure constructed on a coast as part of a coastal defense system or to protect an anchorage from the effects of weather and longshore drift.

When a sailing vessel loses control of its motion and is forced into a sudden sharp turn, often heeling heavily and in smaller vessels sometimes leading to a capsize. The change in direction is called broaching-to. Occurs when too much sail is set for a strong gust of wind, or in circumstances where the sails...