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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: 1156
  • Term
    Definition
  • General Nautical Terminology, Safety Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)

    A compact, portable device used to transmit a distress signal via satellite to alert search and rescue services in emergencies at sea.

    A...

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  • Courses, RYA Personal Watercraft ProficiencyThe RYA Personal Watercraft Proficiency course is designed for jet ski operators, covering essential skills for safe and enjoyable use.... More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology, Safety PFD


    A piece of equipment designed to assist a person in staying afloat in water by providing buoyancy.

    A Personal Flotation Device (PFD), commonly...

    More Details
  • Phonetic Alphabet, Signals & Communication Phonetic Alphabet

    The Phonetic Alphabet, also known as the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet or NATO phonetic alphabet, is a standardised set of words...

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  • General Nautical Terminology PileA stout timber or metal post driven vertically into the a river or seabed
  • General Nautical Terminology PilotAn expert in local waters who assists vessels entering or leaving harbour; An official publication posting details of, for example, local coasts,... More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology, Navigation Pilotage

    Pilotage is the use of fixed visual references by sight or radar to safely navigate to a destination, usually a port or harbour, with the help of...

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  • General Nautical Terminology Pinch

    Sailing too close to the wind for the sails to work efficiently.

    This reduces drive and may cause the luff of the sail to shake or the vessel...

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  • Did you know?, Nautical Saying Pipe down

    Pipe down is a nautical term meaning to quiet down or cease talking. It is often used as a command on a boat or ship to instruct crew members or...

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  • General Nautical Terminology Pitch

    The angle or inclination of a vessel's bow and stern as it moves up and down in response to waves.

    Pitch is a critical concept in marine...

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  • General Nautical Terminology Pitch Pole

    A capsize where a boat flips longitudinally, usually caused by the bow digging into a wave or sudden deceleration.

    A pitch pole is a dramatic...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology, Safety PLB

    A compact, portable device used to transmit a distress signal via satellite to alert search and rescue services in emergencies at sea.

    A...

    More Details
  • Flag Semaphore, Signals & Communication Letter P (Flag Semaphore)
    Flag semaphore indicating the letter P.

    Flag semaphore indicating the letter P.

  • Morse Code, Signals & Communication Letter P (Morse Code)

    International Morse Code sequence representing the letter P.

  • General Nautical Terminology Plot

    To chart or mark a course on a nautical chart or map. A marked course or route on a nautical chart, or the act of determining a vessel's position...

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

    Sea area of the Met Office Shipping Forecast. Spans Plymouth Sound and adjacent waters off southwest England.

    From Plymouth Sound (“mouth of the...

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  • General Nautical Terminology Pontoon

    A pontoon is a flat, buoyant structure used to support a platform, bridge, or boat. It is typically made of metal, plastic, or inflatable...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology PoopedSwamped by a high, following sea.
  • General Nautical Terminology, Parts of a Boat Port

    The left-hand side of a vessel when facing forward towards the bow.

    The term "port" is used in maritime navigation to refer to the left side...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology Port

    A Harbour or docking facility where vessels load and unload cargo or passengers. 

    A port is a designated location along a coast, river, or...

    More Details
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