Glossary Archive

An area offshore where the water is to shallow that a vessel might run aground. To shoal is to become shallow

Elastic rubber bands enclosed in a sheath of fibres, very useful for lashing

To reduce the amount of sail area exposed to the wind, typically to maintain control and safety in strong winds. Shortening sail is a sailing manoeuvre, particularly when weather conditions deteriorate, and the wind strength increases. The primary goal of shortening sail is to reduce the amount of wind pressure on the sails, which helps...

A strong, fixed line or wire that supports a sailing vessel's mast laterally, running from the mast to the sides of the hull or to chainplates.  A shroud is an essential part of a sailing vessel's standing rigging, designed to stabilise and support the mast by preventing it from swaying sideways under the forces of...

The deck alongside the coachroof

Pronounced: see-AIR-rah The term for the letter S in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet.

A wall which acts as a dam, to keep water in a marina

A skeg is a small fin or projection on the bottom of a boat's hull, typically near the stern. It helps to provide directional stability and improve the boat's handling by reducing side-to-side motion or yawing. Skegs are commonly found on various types of watercraft, including sailboats, powerboats, and kayaks. Sail drive propulsion gearboxes are...

A German recreational boating licence required for operating yachts under sail or power in coastal waters up to 12 nautical miles offshore.  The Sportküstenschifferschein (SKS) is a voluntary but widely recognised German boating licence for recreational sailors and motorboat operators. It is intended for those who wish to skipper yachts in coastal waters, specifically within...

A method of reefing a boomed sail where the sail is flaked down on top of the boom. This allows the sail to be reefed by pulling a line attached to a cringle at its luff and securing it to a hook or cleat on the boom. The clew of the sail is secured using...