Glossary Archive

Flag semaphore indicating the letter Q.

International Morse Code sequence representing the letter Q.

A small sleeping area located beneath the cockpit on a sailing or motor vessel, typically positioned on one side of the boat's stern. A quarter berth is a compact sleeping space found on many sailing yachts and motorboats, situated aft of the main cabin and beneath the cockpit. This berth is generally located on either...

Pronounced: keh-BECK The term for the letter Q in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet.

A strong tidal stream

The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) governs the sport of sailboat and sailboard racing. It is revised and published every four years by World Sailing.

The RYA Radar course teaches participants to use radar systems effectively for navigation and collision avoidance. Topics include radar setup, interpreting displays, and optimizing settings for different conditions. Participants practice identifying targets, navigating in poor visibility, and managing radar equipment. This one-day course is ideal for skippers and crew members operating in congested or foggy...

A passive device designed to enhance a vessel's visibility on radar systems by reflecting radar signals back to their source. A radar reflector is a piece of safety equipment used in the maritime industry to ensure that vessels, particularly smaller or non-metallic ones, are more easily detected by radar systems. It is typically made of...

A communication made via radio from a vessel to a shore-based medical facility or professional to seek urgent medical advice or assistance for an onboard medical emergency. A Radio Medical Advice Link Call is an essential protocol in maritime operations, particularly for vessels operating far from shore where immediate access to medical facilities is unavailable....

Two or more vessels tied up alongside each other