Glossary Archive

A length of webbing (or on rare occasions a length of wire) which run from the bow to the stern of the vessel. They have sufficient slack in them so that you can clip your lifeline to it while still in the safety of the cockpit. You are then able to leave the cockpit safe...

The International Maritime Signal Flag Juliett. Meaning I am on fire and have dangerous cargo on board: keep well clear of me.ORI am leaking dangerous cargo.

A triangular sail set ahead of the foremast, typically attached to a stay, and used to improve a vessel's manoeuvrability and balance. The jib is an essential sail on many sailing vessels, located forward of the mainmast and typically attached to a stay running from the bow or bowsprit to the top of the foremast....

Lines attached to clew of headsail to control sail shape.

This signal is also used to transition from letters to numbers when communicating a message.

International Morse Code sequence representing the letter J.

A specialised man overboard recovery device designed to provide buoyancy and visibility to a person in the water.  A Jonbuoy is a self-contained, inflatable man overboard (MOB) recovery system used on yachts and other vessels to assist in rescuing a person who has fallen into the water. Typically stored in a compact canister mounted on...

Pronounced: JOO-lee-ETT The term for the letter J in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet. Did you know?Juliett is deliberately spelt with two t's to ensure that French speakers don't mistake the t as silent.

A temporary but effective device that replaces lost or damaged gear

A gravity-driven wind that flows downhill from elevated terrain, such as glaciers or high coastal cliffs, typically bringing colder, denser air to lower altitudes. A katabatic wind occurs when cold, dense air accumulates over elevated landmasses—such as ice sheets, mountain slopes, or high plateaus—and then flows downward under the influence of gravity. These winds are...