Glossary
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TermDefinition
- General Nautical Terminology, Parts of a Boat Astern
The area or direction behind a vessel, towards the stern.
Astern is a nautical term used to describe both a direction and a movement in...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Asymetric Spinnaker
A large, lightweight sail with an off-centre shape, designed for sailing off the wind, typically used to improve downwind performance.
An...
More Details - Nautical Saying At loggerheads
At loggerheads is a nautical term referring to two ships positioned with their respective loggers (wooden blocks used for securing the ship's...
More Details - Flag Semaphore Attention (Flag Semaphore)

This shape is used to gain the receiver's attention and is used at the beginning of a transmission. The message recipient responds with the...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Automatic Identification System (AIS)
A maritime communication system that automatically transmits and receives vessel information such as position, speed, and course to enhance...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)
An Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) is a self-propelled, unmanned underwater vehicle capable of operating independently without direct human...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology AutopilotEquipment that allows the boat steer a course automatically using either compass bearing or a course relative to wind direction
- General Nautical Terminology AUV
An Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) is a self-propelled, unmanned underwater vehicle capable of operating independently without direct human...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology AuxiliaryA term for a saying a boat that has auxiliary power, i.e. an engine
- General Nautical Terminology, Safety AVS
The maximum angle of heel at which a vessel can recover to an upright position without capsizing.
The Angle of Vanishing Stability (AVS) is a...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology AwashLevel with the surface of the water which just washes over an object
- General Nautical Terminology Baby StayAn inner forestay
- General Nautical Terminology Back
Back (backing) describes the wind’s change in direction when it shifts counterclockwise (anti-clockwise). For example, if the wind shifts from...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Back
To back a sail means to adjust it so that the wind blows on the opposite side from normal, causing the sail to push the boat in the opposite...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Back StayThe backstay runs from the top of the mast to the stern of the vessel. The backstay supports the mast and in some cases can be adjusted to change... More Details
- General Nautical Terminology BailTo remove water from the bilges or cockpit
- General Nautical Terminology BailerA utensil used to bail water out of a boat
- General Nautical Terminology, Weather (Meteorology) Bailey
Sea area of the Met Office Shipping Forecast. Lies off northern Scotland near Bill Bailey’s Bank and the Orkney Islands.
Named for Bill Bailey’s...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Ball
A spherical shape or object used as a day signal to indicate a vessel's status or condition, such as being anchored or aground.
In maritime...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology BallastAdditional weight placed low in the hull to improve stability

