Glossary

This shape represents the Letter A (Flag Semaphore) and the Number 1 (Flag Semaphore).

The presumed signals are letters. The signaller...

International Morse Code sequence representing the letter A.

All at sea is a nautical term for a situation where a ship or boat is adrift or lost at sea without any clear direction or sense of location.

In a broader sense, it can also be used figuratively to describe a person who is confused, disoriented, or unsure about what to do in a...

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,...

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...

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

Pronounced: AL-far

Letter "A" in the phonetic alphabet system.

Pronounced: AL-far

Letter "A" in the phonetic alphabet system.

A US-based organisation that provides sailing education, certification, and accreditation for sailing schools and instructors. 

The American...

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

Amidships is a crucial term in nautical...

A heavy object, typically made of metal, designed to grip the seabed and hold a vessel in position.

An anchor is a crucial piece of equipment...

A designated area where a vessel can be securely anchored, typically marked on nautical charts and chosen for its safe holding ground and...

The moment when an anchor has been lifted off the seabed and is no longer holding the vessel in place.

The term "anchor aweigh" is a...

A black spherical day shape hoisted on a vessel to signal that it is anchored during daylight hours.

An anchor ball is a crucial piece of...

A small floating marker attached to an anchor to indicate its location on the seabed.

An anchor buoy is a vital piece of equipment used in...

A heavy-duty rope, chain, or wire used to secure a vessel to its anchor, ensuring it remains stationary in the water.

An anchor cable is a...

A white light displayed by a vessel at anchor to indicate its position to other vessels during the night or in poor visibility conditions.

An...

A dedicated storage compartment, typically located in the bow of a vessel, used to store the anchor and its associated gear, such as the rode and...

A fitting mounted on a boat's bow designed to guide, support, and secure the anchor and its rode during deployment and retrieval.

An anchor...