Glossary Archive

A temporary drop in wind speed

Sea area of the Met Office Shipping Forecast. Lies in the Bristol Channel, around Lundy Island off southwest England. Named for Lundy Island (Norse “Lund-ey,” puffin island), Lundy has southwest winds of Force 5–7 and rough seas. Britain’s first Marine Conservation Zone sees frequent winter gales that test its rugged coastline.

Magnetic North refers to the direction indicated by a magnetic compass, which points towards the Earth’s magnetic north pole. This differs from True North, the direction towards the geographic North Pole. The difference between Magnetic North and True North is known as variation (or magnetic declination) and varies depending on the location on Earth. Navigational...

A UK government agency responsible for investigating marine accidents and incidents to improve maritime safety. Part of the Department for Transport, the MAIB examines incidents involving UK vessels anywhere in the world and foreign vessels in UK waters. Key Roles and Responsibilities of the MAIB Investigation of Marine Accidents: The MAIB investigates accidents involving all...

To hoist the sails and get under way

The principal and typically largest sail on a sailing vessel, attached to the mainmast and used to harness wind power for propulsion. The mainsail is a critical component of a sailing vessel's rigging, as it provides the primary source of propulsion when the boat is under sail. It is typically hoisted on the mainmast, which...

The mainsheet traveller is a system on a sailboat that allows for adjustment of the mainsheet attachment point along a track that runs across the cockpit or deck. This allows for precise control of the mainsail's angle to the wind, helping to optimise sail trim and performance. By adjusting the mainsheet traveller, sailors can easily...

To secure the vessel with mooring lines to the jetty or to tie up to a buoy

A vessel that is moving through the water under its own power, whether by engine, sail, or other means. A vessel is said to be "making way" when it is actively moving through the water, as opposed to being stationary or "dead in the water." This movement can be achieved through various means, such as...

Sea area of the Met Office Shipping Forecast. Located off the north coast of Ireland, near Malin Head. After Malin Head, Ireland’s northernmost point, Malin experiences northwesterlies of Force 5–7 and rough seas. In March 1961, gusts exceeded 90 mph here, underscoring its reputation as an exposed headland.