Sailing terms and nautical glossary
Find clear definitions of sailing terms, boat parts, knots, navigation and nautical abbreviations. New to sailing? Start with the everyday words below, then explore the full glossary by subject or search for a term.
Sailing terms for beginners
Begin with port and starboard, bow, windward and leeward. Learn how sheets and halyards control sails, then explore points of sail, tacking and gybing.
For terms in context, read our beginner sailing vocabulary guide. Ready to practise on the water? Our first sailing course guide explains how to choose a starting route.
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TermDefinition
- General Nautical Terminology, Nautical Topics, Mooring & Berthing, Navigation, Safety Alongside
Close beside and generally parallel to another vessel, a berth or a landing place.
A vessel comes alongside to embark or disembark people,...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Nautical Topics, Mooring & Berthing, Parts of a Boat, Safety Anchor
A device connected to a vessel by a rode and deployed to the bottom to limit the vessel’s movement.
Different anchor designs hold by burying...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Nautical Topics, Depths & Clearance, Mooring & Berthing, Navigation, Safety Anchorage
A place where vessels anchor or may anchor.
An anchorage may be officially designated and charted or simply a location selected by a mariner....
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Nautical Topics, Mooring & Berthing, Navigation Anchor Aweigh
Describes an anchor that has been lifted clear of the seabed and is no longer holding the vessel.
During weighing, the cable is shortened...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Nautical Topics, Mooring & Berthing, Navigation, Signals & Communication Anchor Ball
A black ball-shaped day signal used to indicate that a vessel is at anchor.
It is displayed where it can best be seen so that other mariners...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Nautical Topics, Mooring & Berthing, Parts of a Boat, Safety Anchor Buoy
A floating marker connected by a buoyed line to an anchor or its crown to show the anchor’s position.
It can help identify where the anchor...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Nautical Topics, Mooring & Berthing, Parts of a Boat, Safety Anchor Cable
The chain, rope, wire or combination connecting a vessel to its anchor.
On ships, “anchor cable” commonly means the chain cable; on small...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Nautical Topics, Mooring & Berthing, Parts of a Boat Anchor Crown
The lower junction of an anchor where the shank meets the arms, flukes or main blade structure.
On traditional anchors the arms extend from...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Nautical Topics, Mooring & Berthing, Navigation, Safety, Signals & Communication Anchor Light
An all-round white light displayed as part of the prescribed signal for a vessel at anchor.
It enables other mariners to recognise the...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Nautical Topics, Mooring & Berthing, Parts of a Boat, Safety Anchor Locker
A compartment designed to stow an anchor, anchor rode or associated anchoring equipment.
It is commonly located near the bow so the rode can...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Nautical Topics, Mooring & Berthing, Parts of a Boat, Safety Anchor Rode
The complete connection between a vessel and its anchor, made from chain, rope or both.
An anchor rode may be all chain, all rope, or rope...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Nautical Topics, Mooring & Berthing, Parts of a Boat, Safety Anchor Roller
A bow fitting with one or more rollers that supports and guides an anchor and its rode during handling.
The roller reduces friction and helps...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Nautical Topics, Mooring & Berthing Anchor Sea-fastening
A securing arrangement that prevents an anchor moving unintentionally while a vessel is under way.
It supplements the windlass brake and may...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Nautical Topics, Mooring & Berthing, Navigation, Safety Anchor Set
The condition in which an anchor has dug into the seabed and is resisting the vessel's pull.
An anchor is set by lowering it under control,...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Nautical Topics, Mooring & Berthing Anchor Setting
The process of embedding an anchor and confirming that it is developing reliable holding power.
After the anchor reaches the seabed, cable is...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Nautical Topics, Mooring & Berthing Anchor Shackle
A strong shackle used to connect an anchor to its chain, swivel or cable.
Its size, material and working capacity must suit the anchoring...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Nautical Topics, Mooring & Berthing, Parts of a Boat, Safety Anchor Shank
The main longitudinal body of an anchor connecting the cable attachment to the crown and flukes.
Load from the rode passes through the shank...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Nautical Topics, Mooring & Berthing, Parts of a Boat Anchor Stock
A crosspiece on some anchors that turns or holds the anchor so a fluke can engage the seabed.
On a traditional stocked anchor it is fitted...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Nautical Topics, Mooring & Berthing Anchor Watch
A watch maintained to ensure that an anchored vessel remains safe and within its intended limits.
The watch includes monitoring position,...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Nautical Topics, Mooring & Berthing, Parts of a Boat, Safety Anchor Windlass
A powered or manual machine used to heave, veer and control an anchor rode.
A chain gypsy engages calibrated chain, while a warping drum...
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