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  • Our Courses

      All our courses are engaging, interactive and fun! Whether formal training or simply looking to brush up, we take online learning to the next level.

    • Sailing EssentialsFreeA free course great for anyone who spends time on the water.
    • Essential Navigation & SeamanshipA great introduction to navigation and basic seamanship.
    • Day Skipper TheoryMany of the best skippers started their journey here.
    • Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster® TheoryComing SoonEssential preparation for the Yachtmaster® practical exam.
    • SRC (VHF) Marine Radio CourseAn essential course for anyone intending to use a marine radio.
  • Directory

      Are you looking for something nautical related? Our directory is an extensive list of courses and places associated with the marine industry. Hop over and search now.

    • Places
      Find anywhere nauctical, including marinas u0026 training centres. If it exists, we’ve got it listed!
    • Courses
      We help you navigate through the complex world of training and help find what’s best for you.
  • Know-How

      We believe every day’s a school day on a boat! That’s why we built Nautical Know-How, dedicated to answering your questions. Even better, if it can’t answer your question immediately, you can request it, and we’ll add it to our knowledge base.

    • Nautical Terms & Terminology
      Understanding the language of the marine world is like trying to learn a pirate’s secret code while juggling fish. Let us explain why a sheet isn’t for your bed, why “heave ho” doesn’t mean throw up (most of the time), and why “dead reckoning” is surprisingly less ominous than it sounds.
    • Why do we have tides?
      Have you ever wondered what causes the tides? Check out this video, which introduces the forces that create the tides we experience on Earth.
    • What causes our weather?
      A video introducing the drivers behind our weather, part of our RYA Day Skipper u0026 RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster® Offshore theory courses.
    • Buoyage Flashcards
      Flashcards designed to help remember the buoys in the IALA system. If you want to learn them in detail, our module ‘Getting in and out of harbour‘, covers the IALA system and different buoys used.
    • Interactive Rule Book (COLREGs / IRPCS)
      Whether you’re a novice sailor or a seasoned skipper, we can help you navigate the IRPCS confidently and clearly. Our easy-to-use, easy-to-understand, plain English rule book with helpful interpretations of what each rule means.
    • The Salty Sea Blog
      From salty old sea dogs to fresh-faced deckhands, this blog is for anyone who finds peace, adventure, and a bit of mischief on the water. So hoist the main, set your course, and let’s sail into the stories, lessons, and musings that make life on the sea so irresistible.
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Nautical Know How
  • Our Courses

      All our courses are engaging, interactive and fun! Whether formal training or simply looking to brush up, we take online learning to the next level.

    • Sailing EssentialsFreeA free course great for anyone who spends time on the water.
    • Essential Navigation & SeamanshipA great introduction to navigation and basic seamanship.
    • Day Skipper TheoryMany of the best skippers started their journey here.
    • Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster® TheoryComing SoonEssential preparation for the Yachtmaster® practical exam.
    • SRC (VHF) Marine Radio CourseAn essential course for anyone intending to use a marine radio.
  • Directory

      Are you looking for something nautical related? Our directory is an extensive list of courses and places associated with the marine industry. Hop over and search now.

    • Places
      Find anywhere nauctical, including marinas u0026 training centres. If it exists, we’ve got it listed!
    • Courses
      We help you navigate through the complex world of training and help find what’s best for you.
  • Know-How

      We believe every day’s a school day on a boat! That’s why we built Nautical Know-How, dedicated to answering your questions. Even better, if it can’t answer your question immediately, you can request it, and we’ll add it to our knowledge base.

    • Nautical Terms & Terminology
      Understanding the language of the marine world is like trying to learn a pirate’s secret code while juggling fish. Let us explain why a sheet isn’t for your bed, why “heave ho” doesn’t mean throw up (most of the time), and why “dead reckoning” is surprisingly less ominous than it sounds.
    • Why do we have tides?
      Have you ever wondered what causes the tides? Check out this video, which introduces the forces that create the tides we experience on Earth.
    • What causes our weather?
      A video introducing the drivers behind our weather, part of our RYA Day Skipper u0026 RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster® Offshore theory courses.
    • Buoyage Flashcards
      Flashcards designed to help remember the buoys in the IALA system. If you want to learn them in detail, our module ‘Getting in and out of harbour‘, covers the IALA system and different buoys used.
    • Interactive Rule Book (COLREGs / IRPCS)
      Whether you’re a novice sailor or a seasoned skipper, we can help you navigate the IRPCS confidently and clearly. Our easy-to-use, easy-to-understand, plain English rule book with helpful interpretations of what each rule means.
    • The Salty Sea Blog
      From salty old sea dogs to fresh-faced deckhands, this blog is for anyone who finds peace, adventure, and a bit of mischief on the water. So hoist the main, set your course, and let’s sail into the stories, lessons, and musings that make life on the sea so irresistible.
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Glossary

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Understanding the language of the marine world is like trying to learn a pirate’s secret code while juggling fish. You’ll wonder why a “sheet” isn’t something you sleep under but a rope that controls a sail. “Bowsprit” sounds like a sneeze, “booby hatch” isn’t a bird’s hideout, and “port” doesn’t come in a glass—it’s just left. If someone yells, “Man overboard!” don’t ask which direction they swam. And heaven help you if you think “scuttlebutt” is gossip—well, actually, you’d be right about that one. By the time you’ve figured out that “head” means toilet and “galley” isn’t an alley with gourds, you’ve already been hit with a wave and lost your hat to the wind they call a “nor’easter.” Let us explain why a sheet isn’t for your bed, why “heave ho” doesn’t mean throw up (most of the time), and why “dead reckoning” is surprisingly less ominous than it sounds.
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Results: 750
  • Term
    Definition
  • General Nautical Terminology Abaft

    A position or direction towards the rear (stern) of a vessel relative to a specific point of reference on the boat.

    In maritime terminology,...

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  • General Nautical Terminology Abate

    To reduce in intensity, force, or degree, especially in relation to wind, waves, or other marine conditions.

    Abate refers to the lessening or...

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  • General Nautical Terminology Abeam

    The position or direction at right angles to the centreline or keel of a vessel, typically on either side of the boat.

    Abeam describes...

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  • General Nautical Terminology, Nautical Saying Above board

    Something done openly, honestly, and straightforwardly without deceit or dishonesty. It originates from pirates hiding crew members below deck...

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  • General Nautical Terminology Above deck

    The area of a boat or ship located on the main deck or any higher deck levels. This area is typically exposed to the elements and is where...

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  • General Nautical Terminology Accidental Gybe

    An unintentional and often abrupt change in a sailing vessel's course that causes the boom to swing violently across the boat, typically due to a...

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  • General Nautical Terminology Adrift

    A vessel that is floating without being anchored, moored, or under control, often at the mercy of wind and currents. 

    Adrift describes a...

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  • General Nautical Terminology Afloat

    The state of being buoyant and on the water's surface, not submerged or sinking. 

    Afloat is a term commonly used in the maritime world to...

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  • General Nautical Terminology Aft

    The rear or stern section of a vessel, towards the back of the boat or ship.

    Aft is a directional term used to describe the position or...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology After Deck

    The portion of a vessel's deck located towards the stern, or rear, of the ship.

    The after deck, sometimes referred to as the aft deck, is a...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology Aground

    The situation when a vessel is stuck on the seabed or shore, unable to move freely in the water.

    When a vessel is aground, the hull has come...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology Ahead

    The direction in front of a vessel, typically along its forward course or heading.

    In maritime terminology, ahead is commonly used to describe...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology Ahoy!

    A nautical greeting or hail used to attract attention, signal presence, or establish communication between vessels or individuals at...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology Air Cushioned Vessel

    A type of watercraft that uses a cushion of pressurised air beneath its hull to reduce friction and enable movement over water, land, or other...

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  • General Nautical Terminology AIS

    A maritime communication system that automatically transmits and receives vessel information such as position, speed, and course to enhance...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology Alee

    The side of a vessel that is sheltered from the wind, also known as the leeward side.

    Alee is a nautical term used to describe the side of a...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology Aloft

    A position above the deck, typically in the rigging or on the masts of a ship.

    Aloft is used to describe any position above a vessel's deck,...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology Alongside

    The position or location next to a vessel, dock, or quay where a ship can be moored or secured. 

    The term alongside is a fundamental concept...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology, Nautical Saying Aloof

    Aloof originally had a different meaning than its modern-day use to describe someone emotionally distant. In maritime language, Aloof comes from...

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  • General Nautical Terminology Amidships

    The central part of a vessel, both longitudinally and laterally, located between the bow and stern.

    Amidships is a crucial term in nautical...

    More Details
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