Glossary

A German recreational boating licence required for operating yachts under sail or power in coastal waters up to 12 nautical miles...

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 loosen a line, rope, or sheet on a vessel, reducing tension.

A term commonly used in maritime contexts to describe the act of easing or...

The short period of still water occurring at the turn of the tide, when the tidal current changes direction and its speed is minimal.

Slack...

Flag semaphore indicating the letter S.

International Morse Code sequence representing the letter S.

Ropes or lines used to temporarily secure a vessel to a dock or mooring point in such a way that they can be released from onboard without...

The act of releasing a vessel's mooring lines in a controlled manner, allowing it to depart from a berth or dock without assistance from shore...

A sloped structure or ramp leading into the water, used for launching, retrieving, or repairing boats and ships. 

A slipway, also known as a...

Electronic navigation standards for commercial vessels less than 24m .

Equipment meeting the requirements of this performance standard is...

A set of internationally agreed-upon phrases used to ensure clear, concise, and unambiguous communication at sea, particularly between vessels...

The actual velocity of a vessel relative to the Earth's surface, accounting for the effects of currents, tides, and other environmental...

An international maritime treaty that sets minimum safety standards for ship construction, equipment, and operation. Its primary goal is to...

Chapter V of SOLAS (Safety of life at Sea) refers to the Safety of Navigation for all vessels at sea.

SOLAS V for pleasure craft

SOLAS V...

Sea area of the Met Office Shipping Forecast. Covers Sole Bank in the eastern Bay of Biscay off the French coast.

From the Sole Bank, famed...

The flat, horizontal planks or panels that form the flooring of a boat's interior, typically installed over the bilge area to provide a stable...

The universally recognised distress signal used in maritime communication to indicate an emergency requiring immediate assistance.

The German...

Sea area of the Met Office Shipping Forecast. Located southeast of Iceland in the North Atlantic.

Southeast Iceland covers waters renamed from...

Sea area of the Met Office Shipping Forecast. Situated in the North Sea, south of Utsira Island off the west coast of Norway.

Also named for...

This shape indicates a space, usually between words. The same shape is also used for Rest (Flag Semaphore) & Ready (Flag Semaphore).

Any long, sturdy pole or beam used on a ship to support sails, rigging, or other equipment. Spars are typically made of wood, metal, or composite...

The actual velocity of a vessel relative to the Earth's surface, accounting for the effects of currents, tides, and other environmental...

The velocity at which a vessel moves relative to the water it is travelling through, excluding the effects of current or tidal flow.

Speed...

A large, lightweight, and often colourful sail designed for use when sailing downwind, typically set forward of the mainsail to maximise speed...

A spar used on sailing vessels to control one clew of a spinnaker sail when sailing downwind.

A spinnaker pole is a key piece of equipment...

A method of joining two ropes or lines by interweaving their strands to form a strong, secure connection.

A splice is a fundamental technique...

A German boating licence required for operating recreational motorboats and sailing vessels above certain power or length limits in German...

A German boating licence required for operating recreational motorboats and sailing vessels on inland waterways. 

The Sportbootführerschein...

A German boating licence required for operating recreational motorboats and sailing vessels with an engine of more than 15 horsepower in coastal...

A German recreational boating licence required for operating yachts under sail or power in coastal waters up to 12 nautical miles...

A protective canvas or fabric structure, often supported by a metal frame, installed over the companionway of a boat to shield the cockpit and...

Horizontal or angled spars attached to a yacht's mast, used to hold the shrouds away from the mast and improve the stability and tension of the...

A tide with the greatest difference between high and low water occurring when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are aligned during new and full...

The Saffir-Simpson Scale is a classification system that categorises hurricanes based on their wind speed and potential for damage. It ranges...

A set of internationally agreed-upon phrases used to ensure clear, concise, and unambiguous communication at sea, particularly between vessels...

A primary tidal reference location for which full tidal predictions, including times and heights of high and low water, are...

The standing end refers to the part of a rope or line that is not actively being used or manipulated during a task or operation. It is typically...

The section of rope between the standing end and a knot being made.

The fixed lines, wires, or rods that support a sailboat's mast and keep it upright and stable.

Standing rigging is a critical component of a...

To maintain a safe distance from a specific location, object, or vessel, often to avoid collision or interference.

A "stand off" in maritime...

The right-hand side of a vessel when facing forward towards the bow.

Starboard is a fundamental directional reference used to describe the...

The side of a vessel that is directly to the right, at a 90-degree angle from the centreline, when facing forward.

The term starboard beam is...

The forward section of a vessel's right-hand side when facing the bow (front) of the ship.

The term "starboard bow" is a specific nautical...

The rear right-hand section of a vessel when facing forward towards the bow.

The term "starboard quarter" is a specific navigational and...

The condition of a sailing vessel when the wind is coming over its starboard (right) side, with the sails set accordingly. 

A starboard tack...

A unit of distance equivalent to 5,280 feet or 1,609.34 meters. It is commonly used on land but is sometimes used in inland waterways.

In...

A mechanical device used in steering systems on boats, consisting of a quadrant-shaped gear connected to the rudder to control the direction of...

The rear or aft-most part of a vessel.

The stern is a critical part of any boat or ship, as it is the section located at the very back of the...

A stern drive is a propulsion system commonly used in recreational motor vessels. It consists of an inboard engine connected to a steerable drive...

A white navigational light mounted at the rear of a vessel, visible from directly behind and within a specified arc, used to indicate the...

A mooring line used to secure the aft (stern) of a vessel to a dock, quay, or another fixed structure.

A stern line is an essential component...

A mooring line that runs diagonally from the stern of a vessel to a point further forward on a dock or another vessel to help control...

The crosspiece fitted at right angles to an anchor’s shank that helps the anchor turn onto its side so a fluke can dig into the seabed.

The...

A knot tied at the end of a rope, usually to stop it from passing through a hole; most commonly a figure of eight knot.

Beaufort Scale - Force 10 (Storm Force 10)

A storm is a weather phenomenon characterised by strong winds, reaching at least 48 knots (55...

A compact cooking appliance or heating device, often found aboard vessels, used for preparing meals or warming the cabin. 

The stove primarily...

To put away in an appropriate place.  Being stowed implies that something has been safely stored and lashed down to stop if from moving when at sea.

The velocity at which a vessel moves relative to the water it is travelling through, excluding the effects of current or tidal flow.

Speed...

Large buoys, generally more than 5 m in diameter, are distinguished on charts because their unusually large size renders them a potential hazard...

Electronic navigation standards for commercial vessels less than 24m .

Equipment meeting the requirements of this performance standard is...

The area around a vessel at anchor where it can safely swing with changes in wind or tide without risk of collision or grounding.

Swinging...

A large, lightweight, balloon-shaped sail used when sailing downwind, designed with identical halves to allow it to be flown on either side of...

A graphical representation of meteorological data over a specific area at a particular time, used to display weather patterns and...

The alignment of three celestial bodies—typically the Earth, Moon, and Sun—along a straight line, often resulting in phenomena such as tides,...

Verb: To change the direction of a sailing vessel by turning its bow through the wind, allowing the wind to shift from one side of the sail to...

The lower forward corner of a sail, where it is secured to the boat or rigging. 

The tack of a sail is the point where the luff (leading edge)...

To manoeuvre or turning a sailing vessel's bow through the wind to change direction, allowing it to sail in a zigzag pattern upwind.

Tacking...

To assume control or responsibility for steering or navigating a vessel.

Taking the helm refers to the act of assuming control over the...

Pronounced: TANG-go

The term for the letter T in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet.

The International Maritime Signal Flag Tango.

Meaning

Keep clear of me.
Fishing boats: Keep clear of me; I am engaged in pair...

A measure used primarily in maritime and aviation contexts to estimate the time until two moving objects (e.g., ships or aircraft) reach their...

A measure used in satellite navigation systems, such as GPS, to quantify the effect of errors in the timing of satellite signals on the accuracy...

Small strips of lightweight material, such as yarn or ribbon, attached to a sail or rigging to indicate airflow and help sailors optimise sail...

A small boat used to transport people or goods between a larger vessel and the shore or another vessel. 

A tender is an essential component of...