Glossary
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TermDefinition
- General Nautical Terminology, Navigation Knot
A unit of speed used in maritime navigation, equivalent to one nautical mile per hour.
A knot is a crucial measurement in marine navigation,...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Knot Knot
A deliberate intertwining of rope or line designed to bind, secure, or attach objects.
Knots are essential in marine environments for various...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Weather (Meteorology) Land Breeze
A local wind that blows from the land towards the sea, typically during the night, caused by the differential cooling rates of land and...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Landfall
The event of a vessel sighting or reaching land after a voyage at sea.
Landfall is a term used in the maritime world to describe the moment...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology LanyardA short length of line used to secure an object such as a knife
- General Nautical Terminology Lash Down
Securing gear firmly so it cannot move around the vessel.
This is done with rope, webbing, shock cord or purpose-made straps to keep equipment...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Navigation LAT
The lowest level that sea tides can reach under normal meteorological conditions, based on astronomical influences such as the gravitational pull...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Lateral MarkBuoy, or post used to mark Port and Starboard sides of a channel
- General Nautical Terminology, Navigation Latitude
The angular distance of a location on Earth's surface, measured in degrees(°), minutes('), and seconds('') north or south of the equator which is...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Lazarette
A storage compartment located in the stern (aft) of a boat, typically used for stowing gear, equipment, or provisions.
A lazarette is a...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Lazy JacksA network of cordage rigged to a point on the mast and to a series of points on either side of the boom that cradles and guides the sail onto the... More Details
- Flag / Pennant, Signals & Communication Code Flag Lima (L)

The International Maritime Signal Flag Lima.
Meaning
Stop immediately.
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If appended by a Numeral Pennant, Latitude (the first 2 digits... - General Nautical Terminology Leading LightsLights positioned to assist entry into harbour or safe passage through a channel. Usually one light above another marks the correct course.
- General Nautical Terminology, Safety Leadline
A rope or line with a lead weight attached to its end, traditionally used for measuring water depth and sampling the seabed in nautical...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology LeagueA unit of length, normally equal to three nautical miles.
- Courses, RYA Learn to WingsurfThe RYA Learn to Wingsurf course introduces participants to the basics of wingsurfing. Participants learn how to control the wing, balance on the... More Details
- General Nautical Terminology LeeThe direction towards which the wind blow
- General Nautical Terminology Leech
The aft edge of a fore-and-aft sail.
This edge runs between the head and clew on many triangular sails and has a strong influence on sail...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Lee-oh!Command given by helm when tacking as the bow passes through the wind. Tells the crew to reset the sails on the new course.
- General Nautical Terminology, Weather (Meteorology) Leeshore
A shoreline that lies downwind of a vessel, posing a potential hazard as the wind pushes the vessel towards it.
A leeshore is a concept in...
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