Glossary

Sea area of the Met Office Shipping Forecast. Covers the sea around the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic.

Covering waters around the Faroe...

A state in which the wind or weather conditions are favourable for navigation or sailing or to adjust or smooth the surface of a hull or...

Sea area of the Met Office Shipping Forecast. Spans the channel between the Orkney and Shetland Islands in the northern North Sea.

After Fair...

A device used to guide a line, rope, or cable, preventing it from chafing or snagging, and ensuring it runs smoothly along a desired path.

A...

Sea area of the Met Office Shipping Forecast. Located off Ireland’s southwest coast near Fastnet Rock.

After Fastnet Rock off Ireland’s SW...

A unit of length equal to six feet (1.8288 metres), commonly used to measure the depth of water.

A fathom is a traditional maritime unit of...

The International Maritime Signal Flag Foxtrot.

Meaning

I am disabled; communicate with me.

The phrase "feeling blue" is commonly used to describe sadness or melancholy, and its origins are often linked to nautical traditions.

A fender is a cushioning device used on boats and ships to prevent damage to the vessel or dock when they come into contact, particularly when...

A technique used to move a boat sideways across a flowing body of water without significant forward or backward motion relative to the...

A type of knot commonly used to create a secure stopper at the end of a rope, preventing it from slipping through a block, cleat, or...

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

Sea area of the Met Office Shipping Forecast. Covers Fisher Bank in the central North Sea, known for its rich fishing grounds.

Taking its name...

Sea area of the Met Office Shipping Forecast. Covers the Atlantic west of the Bay of Biscay.

Honoring Admiral Robert FitzRoy, founder of...

A system for conveying information at a distance through visual signals using hand-held flags.

The position of the flags encodes the...

To lay out or coil a line or rope in a flat, organised manner to prevent tangling or kinking.

Flaking is a crucial technique in maritime...

The process of neatly laying out a rope or line in a series of back-and-forth folds to prevent tangling and ensure it runs out smoothly when...

Flaking a sail is neatly folding or arranging it in parallel or accordion-like folds. This is typically done to store or stow the sail properly...

A pyrotechnic device used on boats to signal distress or indicate position, especially in emergencies.

Flares are an essential part of marine...

This shape represents the Letter F (Flag Semaphore) and the Number 6 (Flag Semaphore).

International Morse Code sequence representing the letter F.

The incoming or rising phase of the tide, during which seawater flows landward and the water level increases. 

A flood tide is the period...

The flat, triangular blade or arm of an anchor designed to dig into the seabed and provide holding power.

The term "fluke" in a marine context...

The rapid and uncontrolled movement of a sail or line due to a sudden change in wind or tension.

Flying out typically describes an event where...

A method of encoding information in a carrier wave by varying its frequency, commonly used in marine radio communications.

Frequency...

The lower edge of a sail, typically attached to the boom or deck of a sailing vessel.

The term foot refers to the bottom edge of a sail. On a...

The forward part of a vessel's deck, located towards the bow and often used for anchoring, mooring, or storage.

The foredeck is a critical...

A hatch located on the forward part of a vessel, typically providing access to the forepeak or forward compartments below deck.

A forehatch is...

Sea area of the Met Office Shipping Forecast. Located at the Firth of Forth, off eastern Scotland near Edinburgh.

Named after the Firth of Forth...

Sea area of the Met Office Shipping Forecast. Covers the central North Sea, northeast of the UK mainland.

Named for the Long Forties sandbank...

The section of a vessel that is located towards the bow, or front, of the ship.

Forward refers to the area or direction towards the bow...

Pronounced: FOKS-trot

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

A method of encoding information in a carrier wave by varying its frequency, commonly used in marine radio communications.

Frequency...

A Fuel collar is designed to fit around a refuelling hose to prevent any spillage or backsplash. This protects your boat and the environment.

A rotating mechanism at the base of a headsail furling system that enables the controlled rolling and unrolling of the sail around the...