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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: 60
  • Term
    Definition
  • General Nautical Terminology PainterThe line at the bow of a dinghy
  • General Nautical Terminology, Safety, Signals & Communication Pan Pan

    An internationally recognised maritime urgency signal used in radio communications to indicate a situation that is urgent but does not pose an...

    More Details
  • Phonetic Alphabet, Signals & Communication Papa

    Pronounced: pah-pah

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

  • General Nautical Terminology, Safety Parachute Flare

    A pyrotechnic distress signal that, when launched, ascends to a high altitude before deploying a parachute to slow its descent while emitting a...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology Parallel RulesNavigational instrument used in conjunction with the compass rose on the chart to transfer bearings and courses to plot a vessel’s position
  • General Nautical Terminology, Navigation, Safety Passage

    A journey or route taken by a vessel from one location to another, often across open water or between specific points such as harbours or...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology, Navigation, Safety Passage Plan

    A detailed, structured navigational strategy outlining the safest and most efficient route for a vessel from departure to destination,...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology Pay Off

    The action or process of a vessel's bow turning away from the wind, often due to wind or rudder adjustments.

    When a vessel "pays off," it is...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology Pay OutTo let out a line or rope gradually
  • Flag / Pennant, Signals & Communication Code Flag Papa (P)

    The International Maritime Signal Flag Papa.

    Meaning

    The Blue Peter.
    In harbour: All persons should report on board as the vessel is...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology, Navigation PDOP

    Measurement of the geometric strength of satellite configuration in a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver.

    It quantifies the...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology Perling

    The small, gentle ripples or wavelets that form on the surface of the water, typically caused by light winds or minor disturbances.

    Perling...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology, Safety Personal Flotation Device (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
  • 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...

    More Details
  • 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...

    More Details
  • 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...

    More Details
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