Glossary Archive

The RYA Day Skipper Theory course provides aspiring skippers with the knowledge to navigate safely in coastal waters. This comprehensive program covers chart work, tidal calculations, meteorology, and collision regulations. Delivered over approximately 40 hours, the course prepares participants for practical Day Skipper qualifications and builds confidence in passage planning and navigation.

The International Maritime Signal Flag Delta. Meaning I am manoeuvring with difficulty.If appended with a Numeral Pennant, a Date.

A navigational method used to estimate a vessel's current position based on a previously known position, factoring in speed, time, and course without using celestial or satellite navigation. Dead reckoning is a fundamental technique in marine navigation that allows sailors to determine their position at sea when more advanced methods, such as GPS or celestial...

A book in which all matters concerning navigation are entered

A licensed mariner responsible for the safe navigation, operation, and management of a vessel's deck department. Deck Officers, also known as mates, are integral to a ship's operation. They ensure its safe navigation and oversee various deck-related tasks. They hold positions of authority and responsibility, typically reporting to the ship's captain (Master) and working in...

Pronounced: DEL-ta The term for the letter D in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet.

A triangular-shaped area of sediment deposited at the mouth of a river, where it meets a body of water such as a sea or ocean. A delta refers to the landform created by the depositing of sediment carried by a river as the flow velocity decreases upon entering a larger body of water, such as...

A plough-style anchor with a triangular, streamlined shape, designed for strong holding power in various seabeds, especially sand and mud. The Delta anchor is a widely recognised and trusted design in recreational and commercial boating. Its distinctive triangular shape and sharp tip allow it to penetrate seabeds effectively, providing excellent holding power. The anchor's plough-style...

A depression is an area of low atmospheric pressure characterised by inward-spiraling winds. Depressions are often associated with stormy weather conditions, including strong winds, heavy precipitation, and rough seas. In meteorology, depressions are also known as cyclones or low-pressure systems.

An electronic depth-finding instrument or the amount of water at a given time