Glossary Archive

“By and large”—another classic sailing phrase that’s drifted into everyday English. Here’s the nautical story behind it: ⚓ Nautical Origin of By and Large: In sailing terms: “By” the wind means sailing close-hauled, or as directly into the wind as possible—with the sails pulled in tight. “Large” means sailing with the wind coming from behind or at a favorable angle,...

The sheltered area in which the crew live and sleep

Unit of measure (distance) A cable is a unit of distance traditionally used to measure short distances at sea. It is generally considered one-tenth of a nautical mile, which equals approximately 185.2 meters or 100 fathoms. The length of a cable can vary depending on the standard used. In the British Navy, a cable is...

Cable is the term for the strong rope or chain used when anchoring. Cables can be made from chain, warp, or a combination of both. Cable is also the term used for a line being used for towing, or in other rigging functions.

The CADET mnemonic can help remember the corrections needed when converting between True North and Compass North bearings. It assists in adjusting for magnetic variation and deviation, which is essential for accurate navigation. Here’s what each letter in CADET represents: CADET Mnemonic Breakdown C — Compass: Start with the compass bearing, the direction the compass...

A unique identifier assigned to a vessel or maritime station for communication purposes, typically used in radio transmissions. A call sign is a critical component of maritime communication, serving as a vessel's unique identifier when transmitting over radio frequencies. National or international regulatory bodies, such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), assign these identifiers. They...

A mechanical device with spring-loaded, opposing cams that grip a rope or line to hold it securely while allowing for quick adjustments.  A cam cleat consists of two spring-loaded, serrated cams that rotate inward to grip a line when it is pulled taut. The design allows for easy engagement and release by simply pulling or...

Cancel (or Disregard) informs the receiver to disregard the previous message or cancel the signalling. There is no specific attachment to this signal, so context and some interpretation will be required unless the sender specifics by spelling out the cancel message.

When a ship or boat overturns, exposing the keel or centre board

Cardinal Bearings are the main points on a compass, expressed by their name. There are four main cardinal points, North, South, East, and West which are also known by their first letters: N, S, E, and W. There are also four cardinal half points between each main cardinal point: North East, South East, South West,...