Glossary
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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TermDefinition
- General Nautical Terminology Back
To back a sail means to adjust it so that the wind blows on the opposite side from normal, causing the sail to push the boat in the opposite...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Bearing to Waypoint (BTW)
Bearing to waypoint refers to the direction to reach a specific point, known as a waypoint. The bearing is given as the crow flies and does not...
More Details - Weather (Meteorology) Beaufort Scale
The Beaufort Scale is a system for estimating and reporting wind speeds based on observed sea conditions. British Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Block
A block is a type of pulley system used to change the direction of a line, rope, or cable on a boat. Blocks consist of one or more grooved...
More Details - Did you know?, General Nautical Terminology Bosun
A bosun, short for boatswain, is a senior crew member on a ship responsible for the vessel's maintenance, repair, and overall operation. The...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Knot Bowline
A type of knot used to form a fixed loop at the end of a rope, commonly employed in maritime settings for securing or towing.
The bowline is...
More Details - Phonetic Alphabet Bravo
In marine terminology, "Bravo" is the phonetic term for the letter "B" in the International Code of Signals. It is used to communicate messages...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology BTW
Bearing to waypoint refers to the direction to reach a specific point, known as a waypoint. The bearing is given as the crow flies and does not...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Cable More Details
- Navigation CADET
The CADET mnemonic can help remember the corrections needed when converting between True North and Compass North bearings. It assists in...
More Details - Flag Semaphore, Signals & Communication Cancel--Disregard (Flag Semaphore)
Cancel (or Disregard) informs the receiver to disregard the previous message or cancel the signalling. There is no specific attachment to this...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Cardinal Bearing
Cardinal Bearings are the main points on a compass, expressed by their name. There are four main cardinal points, North, South, East, and West...
More Details - Phonetic Alphabet Charlie
"Charlie" is a term used in military and law enforcement contexts to represent the letter "C" in the NATO phonetic alphabet. This phonetic...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Chief Mate
The second-in-command on a vessel, responsible for overseeing the ship's day-to-day operations, cargo handling, and the safety of the crew and...
More Details - Did you know?, Nautical Saying Chock-a-block
Chock-a-block is a nautical term describing when two blocks (pulleys) are pulled so close together that they cannot be tightened further. It...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Clear
Clear weather refers to atmospheric conditions free of significant cloud cover, precipitation, fog, or other weather disturbances. The sky is...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Clear
To disentangle a line, for example, removing it from a dock cleat when manoeuvring out of a marina.
When departing from a mooring, it is good...
More Details - Knot Clove Hitch
A clove hitch is a versatile, easy-to-tie knot commonly used to secure a rope to a post or pole temporarily. One of its most common uses is...
More Details - Organisation Coastguard (HMCG)
The organisation responsible for search and rescue operations in UK waters.
His Majesty's Coastguard (HMCG) is a section of...
More Details - Flags, Signals & Communication Code Flag Alpha
In international waters, under the International Rules for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea, the Alpha Flag signifies, "I have a diver down;...
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