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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 & SeamanshipRYA course for beginners. Learn charts, tides, pilotage, and core seamanship with simple practice tasks.
      • Day Skipper TheoryMost PopularRYA course for inshore skippers. Plan day passages using chartwork, tides, weather, and COLREGs.
      • Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster® TheoryComing SoonRYA course for advanced navigation and passage planning. Work with secondary ports, tidal streams, and offshore weather.
      • SRC (VHF) Marine Radio CourseRYA Short Range Certificate radio course. Study online, then take the practical exam with an RYA assessor.
  • 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 nautical, including marinas & 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 & 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 & SeamanshipRYA course for beginners. Learn charts, tides, pilotage, and core seamanship with simple practice tasks.
      • Day Skipper TheoryMost PopularRYA course for inshore skippers. Plan day passages using chartwork, tides, weather, and COLREGs.
      • Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster® TheoryComing SoonRYA course for advanced navigation and passage planning. Work with secondary ports, tidal streams, and offshore weather.
      • SRC (VHF) Marine Radio CourseRYA Short Range Certificate radio course. Study online, then take the practical exam with an RYA assessor.
  • 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 nautical, including marinas & 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 & 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.
  • Chandlery
Sign In Join now—it’s Free

Glossary

AJAX progress indicator
Nautical chart abbreviations are like the secret code of the seas—except instead of buried treasure, they lead to rocks, buoys, and mysterious dashed lines that scream, 'Don’t sail here.' Learning them can feel like cracking a pirate’s encrypted diary, but don’t worry, matey! With clever tools, quirky mnemonics, and a splash of humour, we’ll help you go from 'What’s "FOUL" mean? to confidently navigating the “Wk” wrecks and “Fl G” flashes like a salty sea captain. Think of it as Rosetta Stone, but for avoiding sandbanks!
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Results: 1149
  • Term
    Definition
  • General Nautical Terminology, Weather (Meteorology) Fair Isle

    Sea area of the Met Office Shipping Forecast. Spans the channel between the Orkney and Shetland Islands in the northern North Sea.

    After Fair...

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  • General Nautical Terminology Fairlead

    A device used to guide a line, rope, or cable, preventing it from chafing or snagging, and ensuring it runs smoothly along a desired path.

    A...

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  • General Nautical Terminology FairwayThe main channel in a body of water such as an estuary or river
  • General Nautical Terminology Fairway MarkBuoy, post or pillar positioned at safe distance to seaward of a channel. See also Safe Water mark.
  • General Nautical Terminology, Weather (Meteorology) Fastnet

    Sea area of the Met Office Shipping Forecast. Located off Ireland’s southwest coast near Fastnet Rock.

    After Fastnet Rock off Ireland’s SW...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology Fathom

    A unit of length equal to six feet (1.8288 metres), commonly used to measure the depth of water.

    A fathom is a traditional maritime unit of...

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  • Flag / Pennant, Signals & Communication Code Flag Foxtrot (F)

    The International Maritime Signal Flag Foxtrot.

    Meaning

    I am disabled; communicate with me.

  • Did you know?, General Nautical Terminology Feeling Blue

    The phrase "feeling blue" is commonly used to describe sadness or melancholy, and its origins are often linked to nautical traditions.

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology Fender

    A fender is a cushioning device used on boats and ships to prevent damage to the vessel or dock when they come into contact, particularly when...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology Ferry Gliding

    A technique used to move a boat sideways across a flowing body of water without significant forward or backward motion relative to the...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology FetchThe distance travelled by the wind when crossing open water.  The height of the waves is proportional to the fetch and strength of the wind
  • General Nautical Terminology FidA tapered tool used for separating the strands of rope for splicing.
  • General Nautical Terminology, Knot Figure of Eight

    A type of knot commonly used to create a secure stopper at the end of a rope, preventing it from slipping through a block, cleat, or...

    More Details
  • Courses, RYA First AidThe RYA First Aid course is a one-day program tailored to the unique challenges of the marine environment. Participants learn essential first aid... More Details
  • Flag / Pennant, Signals & Communication First Substitute (ICS Flag)

    Substitute or repeater flags allow messages with duplicate characters to be signalled without requiring multiple sets of flags.

  • General Nautical Terminology, Weather (Meteorology) Fisher

    Sea area of the Met Office Shipping Forecast. Covers Fisher Bank in the central North Sea, known for its rich fishing grounds.

    Taking its name...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology, Weather (Meteorology) FitzRoy

    Sea area of the Met Office Shipping Forecast. Covers the Atlantic west of the Bay of Biscay.

    Honoring Admiral Robert FitzRoy, founder of...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology FixThe position of a vessel as plotted on the chart from position lines obtained by compass bearings, direction finder, echo sounder etc.
  • Did you know?, Flag Semaphore, Signals & Communication Flag Semaphore Signals

    A system for conveying information at a distance through visual signals using hand-held flags.

    The position of the flags encodes the...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology Flake

    To lay out or coil a line or rope in a flat, organised manner to prevent tangling or kinking.

    Flaking is a crucial technique in maritime...

    More Details
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