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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 & SeamanshipA great introduction to navigation and basic seamanship.
    • Day Skipper TheoryMany of the best skippers started their journey here.
    • Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster® TheoryComing SoonEssential preparation for the Yachtmaster® practical exam.
    • SRC (VHF) Marine Radio CourseAn essential course for anyone intending to use a marine radio.
  • 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 nauctical, including marinas u0026 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 u0026 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 & SeamanshipA great introduction to navigation and basic seamanship.
    • Day Skipper TheoryMany of the best skippers started their journey here.
    • Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster® TheoryComing SoonEssential preparation for the Yachtmaster® practical exam.
    • SRC (VHF) Marine Radio CourseAn essential course for anyone intending to use a marine radio.
  • 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 nauctical, including marinas u0026 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 u0026 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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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: 1071
  • Term
    Definition
  • General Nautical Terminology Swinging Room

    The area around a vessel at anchor where it can safely swing with changes in wind or tide without risk of collision or grounding.

    Swinging...

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  • General Nautical Terminology, Weather (Meteorology) Synoptic ChartA map that summarises atmospheric conditions (temperature, precipitation, wind speed and direction, atmospheric pressure and cloud coverage) over... More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology Tack

    Verb: To change the direction of a sailing vessel by turning its bow through the wind, allowing the wind to shift from one side of the sail to...

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  • General Nautical Terminology Tack

    The lower forward corner of a sail, where it is secured to the boat or rigging. 

    The tack of a sail is the point where the luff (leading edge)...

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  • General Nautical Terminology Tacking

    To manoeuvre or turning a sailing vessel's bow through the wind to change direction, allowing it to sail in a zigzag pattern upwind.

    Tacking...

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  • General Nautical Terminology Take InLower a sail
  • General Nautical Terminology Take the HelmTo steer the vessel
  • Phonetic Alphabet, Signals & Communication Tango

    Pronounced: TANG-go

    The term for the letter T in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet.

  • Flag / Pennant, Signals & Communication Code Flag Tango (T)

    The International Maritime Signal Flag Tango.

    Meaning

    Keep clear of me.
    Fishing boats: Keep clear of me; I am engaged in pair...

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  • General Nautical Terminology, Navigation TCPA

    A measure used primarily in maritime and aviation contexts to estimate the time until two moving objects (e.g., ships or aircraft) reach their...

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  • General Nautical Terminology, Navigation TDOP

    A measure used in satellite navigation systems, such as GPS, to quantify the effect of errors in the timing of satellite signals on the accuracy...

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  • General Nautical Terminology Tell TalesLengths of wool or ribbon attached to a sail or shroud to indicate the airflow or apparent wind direction
  • General Nautical Terminology TenderSee Dinghy
  • Courses, RYA Tender OperatorThe RYA Tender Operator course is tailored for individuals using tenders in marina or superyacht environments. The course covers low-speed... More Details
  • Organisation The Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA)

    An internationally renowned professional institution representing naval architects and marine engineers worldwide. It was founded in 1860 and is...

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  • Flag / Pennant, Signals & Communication Third Substitute (ICS Flag)

    Substitute or repeater flags allow messages with duplicate characters to be signalled without requiring multiple sets of flags.

  • Did you know?, Nautical Saying Three sheets to the wind

    The phrase “three sheets to the wind” comes straight from nautical life—and originally had nothing to do with drinking at all!

    🚢 Nautical...

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  • General Nautical Terminology, Navigation Tidal Stream

    The horizontal movement of water caused by the rise and fall of the tide.

    A tidal stream refers to the flow of water generated by the...

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  • General Nautical Terminology, Navigation Tidal Stream Atlas

    A collection of charts that depict the set (direction) and rate (speed) of tidal currents at various stages of the tidal cycle.

    A Tidal Stream...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology, Navigation Tide

    The rise and fall of sea levels caused by the gravitational forces of the moon and the sun acting on the Earth's oceans. Tides are characterised...

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