Glossary Archive

The area of the sea that is away from the coast, typically beyond the immediate inshore waters, and often associated with deeper waters and open-sea conditions. In marine terminology, "offshore" is used to describe activities, locations, or conditions that occur or exist away from the shoreline, typically in deeper waters. The term is relative to...

The Offshore Personal Survival course is an intensive program designed for sailors participating in offshore and ocean races. Participants learn life-saving techniques, including life raft drills, survival swimming, and handling emergencies in rough seas. The course also covers equipment checks, distress signaling, and personal preparation for extreme conditions. Recognized by World Sailing, this course is...

Waterproof clothing worn in foul weather

Flag semaphore indicating the letter O.

International Morse Code sequence representing the letter O.

Wind blowing towards the land or “not at sea”.

Refers to something located in the forward left quadrant of a vessel, between directly ahead and 90 degrees to the port (left) side. "On the Port Bow" is a directional term used in maritime navigation to describe the relative position of an object or another vessel in relation to the observer's own ship. Specifically, it...

At an angle to the stern of your vessel, but abaft the beam, to the left

Refers to a position or object located forward of the vessel and to the right-hand side when facing the bow (front) of the ship. "On the starboard bow" is a navigational term used to describe the relative bearing or position of an object, landmark, or another vessel in relation to the ship's orientation. The term...

The area of a vessel located towards the rear (aft) on the right-hand side when facing forward. The phrase "on the starboard quarter" is a navigational and positional term used in maritime contexts to describe a specific location relative to a vessel. To break it down, "starboard" indicates the right-hand side of the vessel when...