Glossary Archive

The speed at which a tidal stream flows, typically measured in knots. The rate of a tidal stream is the velocity at which the water moves due to tidal forces, usually expressed in knots (nautical miles per hour). Tidal streams are horizontal movements of water caused by the rise and fall of the tide, and...

The International Maritime Signal Flag Romeo. Meaning Distance (range) in nautical miles. Given using Numeral Pennants.

The point of sail where the wind is coming from the side of the boat, roughly perpendicular to the direction the boat is travelling.  A reach refers to a specific point of sail where the wind is coming from the side of the boat, typically at an angle between 90° and 135° relative to the...

Sailing across the wind: from about 60° to about 160° off the wind. Reaching consists of "close reaching" (about 60° to 80°), "beam reaching" (about 90°) and "broad reaching" (about 120° to 160°).

The helmsman’s shout that he intends to go about shortly

The Ready (Flag Semaphore) signal shows the sender is ready to send a message. The same shape is also used for Space (Flag Semaphore) & Rest (Flag Semaphore).

The Ready to Recieve signal shows the sender that the recipient is ready to receive a message. This shape is displayed once the sender has used the Attention (Flag Semaphore) signal before starting the communication.

A reef is a submerged ridge of rock, coral, or sand near the surface of oceans or seas. It can be made up of living organisms like coral or formed by the accumulation of sand or rocks. Reefs are important ecosystems that provide habitat for various marine life and help protect coastlines from erosion.

The act of reducing the area of a sail to decrease wind exposure and maintain control in strong winds. Reefing is an essential technique in sailing that allows sailors to adapt to changing wind conditions. When the wind becomes too strong, a full sail can overpower the boat, making it difficult to control and potentially...

A reefing hook is located near the bottom of the mast at the gooseneck, where the boom connects to the mast. When reefing, the cringle is placed over the reefing hook to secure the sail when reducing its area. This setup allows for easier and quicker reefing in strong winds, ensuring the sail is properly...