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Sizzling Hot. [Volcano Awareness Month]

Don't fall, Madam Pele will eat you.
The USGS Webcam recorded "a river lava pouring into a deeper plunge pool of lava" within a collapse pit in Halema'uma'u Crater on Jan. 7.

In a Proclamation from the County of Hawai'i, January 2010 has been designated "Volcano Awareness Month." Throughout the month, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), in cooperation with Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i County Civil Defense, and the University of Hawai'i at Hilo, will sponsor various events to promote the importance of understanding and respecting the volcanoes on the Big Island.

Sizzling Hot. [Volcano Awareness Month]

Don't fall, Madam Pele will eat you.
The USGS Webcam recorded "a river lava pouring into a deeper plunge pool of lava" within a collapse pit in Halema'uma'u Crater on Jan. 7.

In a Proclamation from the County of Hawai'i, January 2010 has been designated "Volcano Awareness Month." Throughout the month, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), in cooperation with Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i County Civil Defense, and the University of Hawai'i at Hilo, will sponsor various events to promote the importance of understanding and respecting the volcanoes on the Big Island.

December 7, 1941.

0610 - 220 miles north of Oahu Admiral Nagumo of the Japanese Imperial Navy
ordered the 1st wave of 183 aircraft to launch. The 1st wave was lead by
Lt. Commander Mitsuo Fuchida.

0749 Commander Fuchida orders attack...all pilots to begin assault on military
bases on Oahu...

0753 Fuchida radios code to entire Japanese Navy "TORA TORA TORA" indicating success...maximum strategic surprise...Pearl Harbor caught unaware...

0755 Island wide attack begins...Japanese dive bombers to strike airfields Kaneohe, Ford Island, Hickam, Bellows, Wheeler, Ewa...Aerial torpedo planes begin their run on ships in Pearl Harbor...

ATTACK ERUPTS AT PEARL HARBOR

Along Battleship Row, battlewagons feel the sting of the newly perfected torpedoes specifically designed for the shallow waters of Pearl Harbor At 1010 dock violent explosions rock light cruiser HELENA on her starboard side crippling both her and minelayer OGLALA moored beside her.. On the other side of Battleship row, Ford Island, target ship UTAH also feels the sting of the torpedoes...and like the battleship OKLAHOMA begins to capsize... Light cruiser RALEIGH moored ahead of the UTAH takes measures to prevent capsizing... Commander Logan Ramsey of Ford Island Command Center sends out message for all radiomen on duty to send out in plain English "AIR RAID PEARL HARBOR THIS IS NO DRILL"...2nd dispatch orders all patrol planes to seek out enemy... Simultaneously the call for General Quarters echos throughout Pearl Harbor...each ship and their personnel in turn swing into action against the attacking Japanese...one quarter of all guns respond to the enemy...

0800 B-17's from the mainland reach Oahu after 14 hour flight...Aircraft from carrier ENTERPRISE arrive Ford Island...both caught between enemy and friendly fire...

0802 Machine guns on battleship NEVADA open fire on torpedo planes approaching her port beam...two planes hit...however one missile tears huge hole in ship's port bow...

0805 Repair ship VESTAL moored outboard of battleship ARIZONA opens fire... Admiral Kimmel arrives CINCPAC headquarters..Battleship CALIFORNIA receives second torpedo "portside at frame 110"... prompt action directed by Ensign Edgar M. Fain prevents ship from capsizing...High level bombers begin their run "on both bows" of battleship row...

0808 KGMB radio interrupts music calling for: "All Army, Navy, and Marine personnel to report to duty"... High level bombers unleash armour piercing, delayed action bombs from altitude of 10,000 feet scoring hits on battleships...

0810 Forward magazines on battleship ARIZONA suddenly ignite resulting in a tremendous explosion and huge fireball sinking the battleship within nine minutes...concussion of explosion blows men off repair ship VESTAL...

0812 General Short advises entire Pacific Fleet and Washington, "Hostilities with Japan commenced with air raid on Pearl Harbor"

0815 KGMB interrupts music with 2nd call ordering all military personnel to report for duty...

0817 USS HELM first of several destroyers to clear Pearl Harbor spots a midget submarine struggling to enter harbor...shots fired misses target...sub frees itself from reef and submerges...

0825 Using a Browning Automatic Rifle Lt. Stephen Saltzman and Sgt. Lowell Klatt shot down enemy plane making strafing run on Schofield Barracks...

0826 Honolulu Fire Department responds to call for assistance from Hickam Field...3 firemen killed...6 wounded...

0830 3rd call out for military via local radio stations...

0835 Tanker NEOSHO half loaded with high octane aviation fuel moves clear of Battleship Row and oil tanks on Ford Island... Damage reported in city...Police warn civilians to leave streets and return to their homes...

0839 Seaplane tender CURTISS sights midget sub in harbor and commences to fire..Destroyer MONAGHAN heads for intruder at ramming speed...

0840 Submarine surfaces after sustaining damage...MONAGHAN hits sub and drops depth charges as she passes...1st explanation over local radio stations. "A sporadic air attack...rising sun sighted on wing tips"...

0850 Lt. Commander Shimazaki orders deployment of 2nd wave over military bases on Oahu...

0854 Attack run begins...54 high-level bombers hit Naval air stations, 78 dive bombers hit ships in Pearl, 36 fighters circle over harbor to maintain air control...

0900 Crew of the Dutch liner JAGERSFONTEIN opens up with her guns, the first Allies to join the fight...Radios throughout the island crack out urgent messages "Get off roads and stay off.. Don't block traffic...Stay at home...This is the real McCoy"...

0930 Tremendous explosions rocks destroyer SHAW sending debris everywhere... bomb falls near Governor's home...

1000 First wave arrives back on carriers, 190 miles north of Oahu...

1005 Governor Poindexter calls local papers announcing state of emergency for entire territory ofHawaii

1030 Mayor's Major Disaster Council meets at city hall...Reports from local hospitals pour in listing civilian casualties...

1100 Commander Fuchida circles over Pearl Harbor...assesses damage then returns to carrier task force...All schools on Oahu ordered to close...

1115 State of emergency announced over radio by Governor Poindexter...

1142 As per orders by Army local stations go off the air...General short confers with Governor regarding martial law...

1146 First report of many false sightings of enemy troops landing on Oahu...

1210 American planes fly north in search for enemy with negative results...

1230 Honolulu police raid Japanese embassy...find them burning documents...Blackout to begin at night ordered by Army...

1240 Governor confers with President Roosevelt regarding martial law...both agree it necessary that the military take over the civilian government...

1300 Commander Fuchida lands on board carrier AKAGI...discussion follows with Admiral Nagumo and staff concerning feasibility of launching 3rd wave...

1330 Signal flags on carrier AKAGI orders Japanese task force to withdraw... Territorial director of civil defense orders blackout every night until further notice...

1458 Tadao Fuchikami delivers message from Washington...message decoded and given to General Short regarding ultimatum from Japan to be given at 1300 Washington time..."Just what significance the hour set may have we do not know, but be on the alert accordingly"...

1625 Governor signs Proclamation...martial law put into effect...

Time line courtesy of Tri-City Chapter 31,
Pearl Harbor Survivors Association

Listen to the audio of FDR's speech:

President Franklin D. Roosevelt: Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of American was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our secretary of state a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday the Japanese government also launched as attack against Malaya.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Wake Island.

And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As commander in chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us. . .

Source: Courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, New York.

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Go, Go, Go, Go Speedracer. L'hydroptère A Décroché Le Record Mondiaux!

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L'hydroptère a décroché le record mondiaux : 50,17 noeuds (soit 92,91 km/h) sur un mille nautique.
L'hydroptère smashed the world record: 50,17 knots over one nautical mile.

Il devient ainsi l’engin à voile le plus rapide sur la distance de 1 mille nautique.
It's the fastest boat on the water

Watch this video from September to get a feel for her speed.

Sailing Terms

Nautical terms might sound like a foreign language to beginners, but they stand in a proud tradition.
Furthermore,they are often practical and will definitely add to your sailor-self-confidence once they became part of you own linguistic repertoire. On this page, you can learn to talk like a sailor – but don’t forget that it takes more than words to run a boat.

Go directly to...

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z



A


Aast: Command to stop the current actions

Abaft: The direction towards the stern of the boat; back.

Abeam: In an angle of 90 degrees to the keel of the boat.

Above deck: On the deck of the boat, not aloft

Abreast: Side by side, normally referring to ships or boats that are aligned
like that.


Adrift: Lose in the sense of not anchored or moored.

Aft: The direction towards the stern of the boat; backwards.

Ahead: Part of the domain name of the coolest website on sailing; in forward
direction; front

Alee: Facing away from the wind

Aloft: Above the deck of the boat, not “above deck”


Anchorage: Not only a city in Alaska, but also the spot where you anchor your
vessel; normally evaluated according to tides, wind and ground; sometimes used
for the ground only

Anchor: Heavy device usually from metal with flukes that secure a boat by
getting attached to the ground

Anchor Cable or Anchor Warp: Chain or rope that connects the anchor with the
vessel

Anchor windlass: A mechanism that is used in yachts to raise an anchor through
the warp around a drum

Anemometer: Navigational instrument that measures the speed of the apparent wind


Anticyclone: High-pressure area, a meteorology term

Antifouling Paint: Paint with toxic chemicals that is applied to the hull to
reduce or prevent marine growth

Apparent wind: The subjective wind that results from true wind and the wind
produced by motion

Astern: in backward direction; back; abaft the stern

Athwartships: in a 90 degree angle to the centerline of the vessel



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B


Backstay: Wiring that supports the mast; tensions the forestay

Backwind: To loosen the trim of a mainsail so that it flaps – reduces heeling

Bahamas: An archipelago and country in the Caribbean, among the favorite
destinations for cruisers especially from the US and Canada

Ballast Weight: A Weight normally of metal and placed deep in the hull to
balance the boat


Barber Hauler: A line connected with the jib sail to control its adjustments

Bareboating: Renting a boat with no crew, generally for vacations

Barograph: A device that measures air pressure

Batten: A light strip that supports the roach

Beam: Maximum width of a boat


Bearing: The direction of any object from your vessel

Bearing away: To turn a vessel away from the wind

Beaufort Scale: A table that ranks wind strengths and describes accompanying
features

Belay: Securing a line in a cleat fitting; order to ignore the previous order

Below: Underneath the deck of a boat


Bending on: To mount the mainsail to the boom

Bermuda sloop: The most “classic” rig with a triangular mainsail and a jib

Bight: The part of a rope that is used for making knots

Bilge: The parts of the hull that curve inwards to form the bottom

Bilge board: Centerboard structure to decrease sideways drift

Bilge pump: A pump to remove water from the bottom of the hull


Binnacle: Device holding and stabilizing a compass

Bitter End: The “end” of a rope, to part that stays on board, for example of the
anchor rode

Boat Hook: Metal device with a fitting often mounted to a stick that is used for
any sort of fiddling with ropes, sails or pirate.

Boom: Free-moving structure that is attached to the mast normally in a 90
degrees angle; holds the foot of a sail

Boom Crutch: Supporting structure for the boom, stabilizes it when the boat is
anchored

Boot top: Mark to indicate the waterline


Bottlescrew: A fitting to control the tension on the forestay

Bow: Front edge of a boat

Bow fitting: Fitting to which the jib is attached

Bower anchor: Main anchor of a boat

Bowline: Mooring rope that is attached to the bow


Breast rope: The mooring rope or anchor warp that is used on yachts and cruisers

Bridge: A rather widely used term for the place from which a boat is commanded

Bridge Deck: Mostly used to describe the intermediate deck between cabin and
cockpit in small to medium-sized cruisers

Brightwork: Polished and shiny wood or brass on a boat

Bulkhead: Structure that divides the hull and is often constructed in a way to
stabilize the boat


Bullseye: A round fitting or hole through which a rope or line is led to
re-direct it.

Buoy: An anchored, floating structure that is used as a signal; often indicates
the presence of divers, dangers, mooring spots or other things of significance.
Often color- or flag coded.

Buoyancy tanks: Sealed tanks in the hull of dinghies that contain buoyancy to
support the boat in case it capsizes

Burgee: A little flag on the top of a mast that indicates the direction of the
wind


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C



Cabin: A room on a boat for passengers and crew

Cabin sole: The floor of a cabin

California: A state of the US and a region in Mexico; the Gulf of California is
among the most heavily used sailing destinations in the World

Capsize: When the boat turns over to 90 (bad) or 180 (worse) degrees, normally
due to high wind-exposure

Capstan: Device to wind rope, for example to lift the anchor


Caribbean: The area between Florida and South America, including the Gulf of
Mexico; among the World’s most popular destinations for cruises

Catamaran: A sailing vessel with two aligned hulls

Centerboard: A board normally attached to dinghies to reduce the sideways drift.
Lifts around a pin, unlike a daggerboard, which is released vertically.

Centerline: Center of the fore-and-aft line

Center of forces: The spot on a vessel on which all forces act centrally

Chain plate: A fitting that is used to attach stays to the boat


Chart: A map that is used in navigation

Chine: The edge between the side of the boat and the bottom; it is called a
chine only in boats in which the angle between the two actually forms an angle

Chock: Normally round fitting in the boat to hold the anchor- or mooring rope.

Class: A group of boats of the same design, relevant for races and regattas

Cleat: Fitting that is used to fix and secure lines that are in frequent use

Clew: The lower aft corner of a sail


Clove Hitch: Common knot; often used to bind a rope to a piling

Close reach: Steering off a close-hauled course by approximately 20 degrees

Close-hauled: To sail a boat as close to the wind as possible

Club: Societies of mostly non-professional sailors that sail for pleasure; the
first sailing clubs developed in the 17th century in England

Coaming: A wall-like extension above the deck to protect the cockpit from wind
and water

Cockpit: The place on the deck from where the boat is handled or commanded;
varies in size and importance from boat to boat


Col regs: International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

Communication system: Radio or satellite systems used on yachts for
communication

Companionway: Stairway, ladder or entrance to the cabin

Compass: Navigational tool that points to the magnetic north pole; read
more on choosing a compass

Compass north: The direction in which the compass points – not matching the
geographic north

Counter: The part of the hull that lies above the water at the stern.


Course: Direction into that a boat sails or otherwise moves

Coxswain: Sailor commanding or navigating a small boat

Crew: Everybody on board that is in charge with some aspect of operating the
vessel

Croatia: A country in the Mediterranean that is blessed with a long coast and
fantastic islands – our personal favorite in Europe

Cruise: Pleasure trip on a yacht or ship

Cuddy: Small cabin on a boat, often an emergency shelter or storage space


Cunningham: Device to pull the main sail tighter, in order to flatten and
control it

Current: Movement of water; for sailing normally outlined in two dimensions
(surface currents)

Cutter: A yacht with one mast and two headsails


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D


Daggerboard: A board normally attached to dinghies to reduce sideways drift.
Released vertically, unlike a centerboard, which lifts around a pin


Danbuoy: A marker that is attached to a lifebuoy

Danger Zone: The area between your dead ahead of a boat to abaft of its
starboard beam.

Davit: Minicrane fitted to a vessel to lift heavy pieces of equipment

Dead Ahead: Straight forwards direction.

Dead Astern: Straight aft direction.

Deadlight: Fixed light in a cabin’s roof.


Deck: Solid covering over a hull, does not always cover all of it

Depression: Low-pressure area in meteorology

Dew point: The point of temperature and air pressure at which water vapor forms
mist or fog

DGPS: Differential Global Positioning System

Dinghy: A small to medium sized, open boat


Dismasting: If the mast breaks and goes off. Sucks badly.

Displacement: The amount of water that is displaced by a boat and thereof –
according to Archimedes – as heavy as the boat

Ditty Bag: Bag used for storing and carrying small items of passengers or crew

Dock: A protected area that is normally part of a port where boats can be
moored.

Dodger: A simple, protective screen that protects the cockpit from wind and
water; also used for cloth that is used for weather protection of boats or
accessories


Downhaul: The rope that is used to pull a sail down

Downwind: All courses further away from the wind than a beam reach

Draft: The depth of water that a boat draws

Drift: Strength of a tidal current

Driving force: Force produced by catching wind in a sail and transmitting the
energy into a the mast


Dry Sailing: The storage of boats onshore to reduce the deterioration of the
material


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E


Ebb: A receding current, from German “Ebbe”.

EP: Estimated Position, a value plotted on a map or chart in temporal intervals

EPIRB: Emergency Position Indication Radio Beacon. Radio signaling aid that
allows the transmission of emergency position calls



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F


Fairlead: A fitting that is used to direct or re-direct lines and ropes.

Fathom: Six feet

Fender: A cushion-like thing that is placed along the hull to protect it from
collision with other boats, pier walls or cliffs to prevent damage normally when
mooring

Fiddles: A kind of framing around tables under deck to keep objects from rolling
off the surface


Figure Eight Knot: A common knot that is often used to prevent lines and ropes
from slipping through a fitting.

Fin Keel: A single keel that is centrally located and ballasted

Flare: An emergency signal.

Flood: A current moving towards land

Fluke: The barbs or hooks of anchors

Foils: Underwater parts of a boat


Following Sea: An overtaking sea coming from astern

Foot: The bottom end of a sail

Foremast: The mast that is most forward on a boat

Foresail: The lowest square sail on the most forward mast

Forestay: The wiring that supports the mast and keeps it from falling backwards.
Leads from masthead to bowsprit or foredeck.

Foretriangle: The triangle that is formed by the forestay, mast and deck.


Fouled: If gear or parts of the boat are jammed, messed up or dirty.

Foul Weather Gear: Gear, clothing or accessories that are designed to
accommodate needs that arise from bad weather issues

Frames: The rib-like structures that shape and stiffen the hull of any vessel

Freeboard: The area from the deck to the waterline.


Freer: A change in the wind direction to the aft of a boat


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G


Gaff: A free-moving spar that is mounted to the top edge of a sail

Galley: The cooking facility on a boat; in larger yachts normally called kitchen

Gangway: The part of a ship or large yacht where passengers and crew board or
disembark


Gear: All equipment used for sailing except the boat itself; rather a commercial
than a nautical term; read our gear checklist

Gennaker: A sail that is a hybrid between a spinnaker and a genoa

Genoa: A large headsail, which overlaps the mast and often meets the deck with
its foot.

Gimbals: A fitting that moves in a way that keeps delicate or potentially
dangerous objects in an upright position even in the case of the boat heeling

Give Way Together: Order by the Cox in rowing boats


Gloves: Sailing gloves protect hands of competitive sailors and allow the fast
handling of wires and lines

GMDDS: Global Maritime Distress and Safety System

Gooseneck: A universal joint fitting that links the boom with the mast

Goosewinging: Sailing downwind with a mainsail set on one side and the foresail
on the other

GPS: Global Positioning System


Greece: Country in Southern Europe that is among the most popular sailing
destinations in the Mediterranean because of its many small islands

Ground Tackle: Anchor and all related anchoring equipment such as warp or
capstan

GRP: Glass-reinforced plastic, the most common material in boat manufacturing
these days

Gunwale: Upper edge of the side of the hull

Guy: A wire or line controlling the spinnaker pole



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H


Halyards: Ropes or wires for lifting or lowering sails and associated spars

Hanks: The metal clips that attach a sail to a forestay

Hatch: An opening in the deck to enter the space below it

Hawaii: An archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, State of the US and top-destination
of many cruises


Head: The top-corner of a sail; in larger yachts also the toilet or bathroom and
washing facility

Headaway: Forward motion of a boat

Header: Change in the wind direction to forward of the boat

Heading: The direction into which a boat is steered, the intended course

Headknocker: A fitting with a block and a jam cleat that attached to the boom to
control the main lines and wires on small to medium-sized boats


Heads: Toilet facility on a boat

Headsails: All sails that are used forward of the foremast

Heel: The tilting of a boat into an angle whilst it sails

Heeling force: Force that results from the sum of the sideways force and
resistance from the keel

Helm: The wheel or tiller through which you control the rudder


Helmsman: The Sailor that steers the vessel

Hitch: A common knot that is often used to secure a rope to another one – or an
object

Hold: The space in the hull that is used for the storage of cargo

Hull: The main body of a boat or ship


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I



IALA: International Association of Lighthouse Authorities

Ice sailing: Navigating vessels on blades over ice using sails

Impeller pump: A type of pump commonly used on large sailing vessels

Inboard: Toward the center of a boat; sometimes used for “engine”

Isobars: Bars or lines on meteorological maps to show pressure areas



J


Jacob’s Ladder: A rope ladder that leads off the deck to allow passengers and
crew to disembark or board

Jackstays: Ropes or wires that run along the sidedecks to allow the crew to
attach harnesses for self-protection in case of foul weather

Jettison: To throw overboard

Jib: The triangular sail in front of the foremast, in front of the main sail

Jib sheets: Lines that allow you to trim the jib


Jumper Stay: A short stay that supports the mast

Jumbo: The largest headsail in use on a boat


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K


Kedge Anchor: A secondary, lighter anchor

Keel: The lowest part of a boat that stabilizes the hull and decreases sideways
drift. In wooden vessels, frames are normally attached to the keel.


Kick-up: A rudder or centerboard that is able to kick-up when it hits a solid
obstacle

Knockabout: A type of schooner

Knot: A measure of speed in navigation that is defined as one nautical mile per
hour


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L


Lapper: A foresail that extends backwards beyond the mast and thereby,
overlapping it


Latitude: The north-south distance of the equator measured in degrees

Lazarette: The storage space in the front part of the hull

Lazyjacks: Lines or wires that are rigged from the mast to the boom to retain
the sail when it is lowered

Lead: The direction in that a line runs

Leech: Aft edge of a sail

Leech line: The rope or wire that runs through the leech of the sail and
controls its tightness


Lee: The side facing away from the wind

Lee helm: The leeward course an unsteered boat takes

Leeward: The direction facing away from the wind. Pronounced like “loo-ard”

Leeway: Sideways drift of a boat through wind or water current

Lifelines: Line or wire that attaches a safety harness to a fitting or jackstay

Lines: Thin ropes used to control sails, secure spars and for manifold other
important things aboard


Log: A protocol of the actions on and course of the boat

Longitude: The east-west distance from the meridian in Greenwich in degrees

Lubber-line: Mark on a compass that indicates the forward direction of a boat

Luff or luffing or to luff up: The forward edge of a sail; the verbs describe
the action that brings the boat’s front closer to the wind


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M


Magnetic north: The direction to the magnetic north pole, which does not
match with the geographic North Pole

Magnetic variation: The variant angle of the difference between magnetic and
geographic North Pole. The variation results from the movement of the magnetic
North Pole.

Mainmast: As other definitions generally fail, “mainmast” refers to the biggest
mast on a vessel

Mainsail: The lowest sail on the mainmast


Marline Selling: Tool to open the strands of a line or rope when splicing

Mast: A vertical spar that holds the sails and their respective rigging

Mast gate: The point at which the mast enters the foredeck of a boat

Masthead: The top end of a mast

Mast spanner: A device that allows the control of a rotating mast on catamarans

Mayday: An internationally valid distress signal that is repeated three times
and has highest priority of all signals


Midship: Center of the vessel, middle between bow and stern

Mizzen: A fore and aft sail on the mizzen mast

Mooring: Action that secures a boat to a pier, anchorage or buoy


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N


Naked sailing: A theme for pleasure sailing done with s partly or completely

naked crew around which an entire travel industry has evolved; popular for
vacations that range from rather “normal” sailing trips done naked to adult
swinger cruises

Naturist sailing: as above

Nautical Almanac: A calendar and advice book for nautical applications

Nautical Mile: One minute of latitude, 1852 meters


Navigation: The teaching of commanding a boat safely from one point to another

Navigation Regulations: Also “Steering and sailing rules”; a set of rules that
govern the movement of boats with respect to each other

No-sail-zone: The area of plus minus 45 degrees into the wind in which boats
generally can’t sail

Nude sailing: see “naked sailing” or our article on
nude sailing


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O


Oar: Long type of paddle that is applies in pairs to generate drive for the
boat

Ocean: Synonym for “a huge chunk of sea”

Offshore wind: A wind blowing off the land, opposite of…

Onshore wind: A wind blowing onto the land

Outboard: Mounted externally to the boat, near the boat’s side – for example an
engine


Outhaul: Rope or wire that is used to haul out a sail

Overhaul: To sort out mess with the rigging

Overboard: Outside the boat


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P


Painter: Mooring line attached to the bow of dinghies


Pan Pan: The second-highest (after “Mayday”) priority signal that expresses
distress

Pedestal: A standing post in the cockpit to support the field of view to the
person steering the yacht

Pier: A platform to which a boat can be moored

Pile moorings: Moorings made from wood or metal piles driven into the ground

Pinching: Entering the no-sail-zone or sailing just on the boarder to it


Planking: In wooden boats, the boards that cover – sometimes form – the hull and
that are attached to the keel and frame

Planing: A boat racing that fast, that hardly any part of the hull is under
water; gliding

Planing Hull: A hull built in a way to support gliding at high speeds

Plotter: A nautical tool to plot a course on a map or grid of latitudes and
longitudes

Port: Left to the vessel; a harbor


Privileged vessel: The vessel with the right-of-way according to nautical rules

Pulpit: Metal railing or frame around the bow of a boat, mostly for safety
reasons

Pushpit: A pulpit around the stern of a boat


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Q


Quarter: Sides of a vessel that are aft of amidships


Queen topsail: Small sail between foremast and mainmast


R


Rake: The angle of a mast

Reaching: Holding a course with the wind roughly abeam

Reef: An aid to reduce the size of a sail during periods of strong wind

Rig: The sum of all sails, spars and masts on a boat


Rigging: The sum of all ropes, lines and wires that hold and control sails and
mast on a boat

Roach: The curved part of a sail that goes beyond a straight line between head
and clew

Rocker: The curve from stern to keel to bow

Rode: Once again another term for the anchor line

Rope: Strictly speaking, ropes are “raw” lines, as soon as they are used on a
boat, they should be called like that – which we don’t follow too much

Rub-rail or strake: A rail used as a buffer to protect the hull when the vessel
is moored to a pier or another boat


Rudder: Underwater board that supports the steering of a boat

Run: A not-fixed line that is allowed to move

Running: Sailing on a direct downwind course

Running rigging: The sum of all lines and wires that control sails and that can
be manually adjusted whilst sailing

Running Lights: Light signals that indicate the position of a vessel in the
hours of darkness


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S


Safe course: A determined safe route across dangerous water

Sail: A kind of cloth that is arranged in a way to catch wind and transmit its
power via a mast and rigs into a sailing vessel

Sailing Rig: Pretty much all gear on a boat that is of immediate use for sailing
it except the boat itself – sails, booms and masts, lines and wires.

Safe room: All water surface within a certain distance from potential hazards
such as the shore

Schooner: A sailing boat or ship with at least two masts. Generally used for
ships of larger size.


Schooning: To move forward quickly; historic nautical term

Screw: The propeller of a boat, in sailing especially for yachts

Sculling: A technique of “rowing” a dinghy with a single oar

Scupper: Drains in the decks or inner parts of boats (cabins, cockpit and alike)
that lead water overboard

Sea Cock: A valve in the hull that protects the plumbing pipes of a yacht to
water from outside the vessel

Securite: A safety signal that precedes a warning


Seaworthy: In principle, any boat meeting all necessary requirements for sailing
offshore

Secure: To fasten a rope, line or wire

Sheer Strake: In wooden ships, the top planking that is normally thicker and
more prominent than the other planks

Sheets: Lines or wires that are applied to a sail in order to control and adjust
it

Ship: Tricky one – since this is a term widely applied; any bigger vessel that
is seaworthy; a vessel that can carry a boat on board


Sideways force: The part of the force generated by the wind in the sail that
moves the boat sideways

Skeg: A fitting to which the rudder is attached

Slack: loose ropes, lines, wires

Slip: A ramp for launching a boat

Sloop: A boat with only one mast and sail


Sole: The floor in a cabin

Spar: A pole on a boat that is normally used to spread a sail or to support
lines and wires

Spinnaker: A light, triangular sail that is used in front of all other sails for
sailing downwind

Spreaders: Synonym for crosstrees, horizontal structures that branch off the
mast towards the sides of a vessel to control the angle of the shrouds

Springtides: Tides with the maximum difference between highest and lowest water
level

Spritsail: An aft sail that is supported by a spar from the mast


Standing Rigging: Opposite of running rigging, all rigging that remains fixed on
the boat to support spars and mast

Starboard: Right-hand side of a boat or ship

Stay: A line or wire that supports the mast in a direct line from the mast to
the bow of a boat

Staysail: A sail that is set on a stay instead of a mast

Stem: The upright structure at the bow

Stern: The aft part of the boat

Stern line: A mooring line that runs off the stern

Strake: A term used to describe the wooden plank running from the bow to the
stern alongside the hull

Stern quarters: The aft corners of the hull


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T


Tabernacle: A hinged mast step

Tack: Forward lower corner of a sail; steering the bow of a vessel through the
wind

Taffrail: Rail at the stern of a vessel

Thwart: A fixed seat or board in the hull of a dinghy

Tail: To pull on the tail of a sheet when winching


Tell-tales: Strips of some kind of fabric that are attached to sails to indicate
the wind and right trim

Tender: Small boat that is used to transport passengers to bigger vessels

Texas: Not only desert, but among our favorite destinations for sailing with its
access to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean

Tide: The rise and fall of the sea water level due to the moon’s gravity

Tidal drift: Strength of the tidal drift

Tidal stream: Current caused by the rise and fall of the tides


Tiller: A control handle that is connected to the rudder with a universal link

Tiller bar: A device linking the two tillers of a catamaran

Topmast: An additional spar mounted on top of the main mast

Topping lift: A line or wire that supports the boom when a vessel is moored

Topsides: The part of the hull between the water surface and the edge of the
deck


Training run: Not quite a run, but about 10 degrees off the course of an actual
run

Transom: The surface that makes the stern of a boat

Transom flaps: Flaps in the transom that allow water to run off the boat

Trapeze: A device mostly used in racing dinghies to allow the crew to lean out
further without falling overboard

True north: The direction to the geographic North Pole

True Wind: The wind that is felt by somebody stationary



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U


Uphaul: A line or wire used to control the height of a spinnaker pole

Upwind: Any course closer to the wind than a beam reach


V


Vacation: The ultimate opportunity to start you own sailing adventure


Vessel: Any kind of boat, ship or yacht


W


Warp: Anchor line or mooring line

Weather shore: The shore if wind blows strongly offshore

Winch: A device that is used to pull in sheets

Windward: Towards the wind



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Y


Yacht: From the Dutch word “Jaghd”, widely used term for pleasure vessels,
mostly bigger boats primarily for sailing, but often seaworthy and equipped with
strong engines


Z


Zail: Misspelling of sail, very uncommon



Further Reading
A Glossary of Nautical Terms
A similar Glossary on Wikipedia

Links

Canoe Sailing

Fish and Fishing


Maritime


Sailing News

Sailors


Video

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OLIMPÍADA 2016 SERÁ NO RIO!

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I wonder why the IOC choose Brasil? Hmmm, I wonder?

http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf

The Tillerman said, "Personally, I would rather go to Chicago any day." Dear Old Sir, you don't need a wetsuit to sail your Laser in Rio. Besides, have you seen the view? I know Bunty, "Shameless!" Chalk it up to my Latin blood.

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I'll Have Mine On The Rocks!

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Not quite what I had in mind.
As a daring overtaking manoeuvre in choppy seas, it did not quite go according to plan. Instead of making up vital ground against 19 rival boats during a gruelling race, the Jersey-registered Knight Star found itself perched high and dry - on top of a rock. Read more here.

Via Conjuminando, my favorite new blog.

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