Glossary

The prescribed route that competitors must sail during a race.

It is defined by marks, required rounding sides, start and finish lines,...

The overall plan for completing a sailing race as quickly and reliably as possible.

Strategy considers wind pattern, current, course geometry,...

The rules published by World Sailing that govern sailboat, windsurfing and related forms of racing.

Commonly abbreviated to RRS, they cover...

A radar transponder that replies to a received radar pulse with a coded signal identifying its location.

The response appears on a vessel's...

A radio-detection system that measures the range and direction of objects by transmitting energy and processing returned echoes.

Marine radar...

Codes identifying electronic aids to navigation.

Radar and radio-aid abbreviations include Racon for radar responder beacon, Ramark for radar...

A beacon transmitting a continuous or periodic signal that produces an identifying radial line on a vessel’s radar display.

A Ramark transmits...

A passive structure intended to increase the strength of radar energy returned from a vessel or object.

Corner reflectors and other geometries...

A ship-to-shore communication requesting medical advice for illness or injury aboard a vessel.

The call connects the vessel with a telemedical...

The international treaty rules governing use of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.

Maintained through the International...

The internationally agreed code words used to spell letters clearly during voice radio communication.

Words such as Alfa, Bravo and Charlie...

To secure two or more vessels alongside one another, or the resulting group of vessels.

A raft may form alongside a berth, mooring or anchored...

A vessel restricted by the nature of its work in its ability to manoeuvre as required by the collision regulations and therefore unable to keep...

A digital chart made from a georeferenced image of a paper nautical chart.

A raster chart preserves the printed chart’s appearance as a grid...

A georeferenced digital image of a paper nautical chart.

An RNC preserves the chart's printed appearance but does not contain the same...

An International Code of Signals flag representing the letter R, with no assigned standalone single-letter meaning in the current Code.

Code...

Sailing with the apparent wind between close-hauled and directly astern.

The range includes close, beam and broad reaches. Fixed degree limits...

A point of sail with the apparent wind between close-hauled and directly astern.

A close reach has the apparent wind forward of the beam, a...

A preparatory command warning the crew that the vessel is about to tack.

The call gives crew time to prepare the working and lazy sheets,...

A semaphore position used to indicate readiness and, in context, a pause, space or rest between parts of a message.

The signaller uses the...