Glossary
-
TermDefinition
- Courses, RYA Advanced Pilotage
The RYA Advanced Pilotage course focuses on navigating in challenging conditions, such as night cruising or confined waterways. Participants...
More Details - Courses, RYA Advanced Plus WindsurfingThe RYA Advanced Plus Windsurfing course is aimed at experienced windsurfers seeking to push their skills to the limit. The course covers advanced... More Details
- Courses, RYA Advanced WindsurfingThe RYA Advanced Windsurfing course focuses on refining techniques for high-performance windsurfing. Participants learn advanced maneuvers such as... More Details
- General Nautical Terminology Afloat
The state of being buoyant and on the water's surface, not submerged or sinking.
Afloat is a term commonly used in the maritime world to...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Aft
The rear or stern section of a vessel, towards the back of the boat or ship.
Aft is a directional term used to describe the position or...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology After Deck
The portion of a vessel's deck located towards the stern, or rear, of the ship.
The after deck, sometimes referred to as the aft deck, is a...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Aground
The situation when a vessel is stuck on the seabed or shore, unable to move freely in the water.
When a vessel is aground, the hull has come...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Ahead
The direction in front of a vessel, typically along its forward course or heading.
In maritime terminology, ahead is commonly used to describe...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Ahoy!
A nautical greeting or hail used to attract attention, signal presence, or establish communication between vessels or individuals at...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Air Cushioned Vessel
A type of watercraft that uses a cushion of pressurised air beneath its hull to reduce friction and enable movement over water, land, or other...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology AIS
An automatic tracking system used on ships and by vessel traffic services (VTS). AIS works over VHF and supplements marine radar, which continues...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Alee
The side of a vessel that is sheltered from the wind, also known as the leeward side.
Alee is a nautical term used to describe the side of a...
More Details - Flag Semaphore, Signals & Communication Letter A (Flag Semaphore)
This shape represents the Letter A (Flag Semaphore) and the Number 1 (Flag Semaphore).
The presumed signals are letters. The signaller...
More Details - Morse Code, Signals & Communication Letter A (Morse Code)
International Morse Code sequence representing the letter A.
- Nautical Saying All at sea
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.
- Nautical Saying All at sea
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...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Aloft
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,...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Alongside
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...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Nautical Saying Aloof
Aloof originally had a different meaning than its modern-day use to describe someone emotionally distant. In maritime language, Aloof comes from...
More Details - Phonetic Alphabet, Signals & Communication Alpha
Pronounced: AL-far
Letter "A" in the phonetic alphabet system.