SacchettoWeight provided with a small cable, thrown to land in order to allow the passage of a bigger cable
Sacrifical anodeMetal part, usually made of zinc, fixed to the hull or some other metal parts to prevent galvanic streams from causing corrosion
Safe waters signalIt is surrounded by navigable waters bu it doesn't indicate a danger. It is used, for example, to indicate a channel
Safety notesInspections which verify that the boat, its safety equipments, engines, electric systems, etc.. meet the technical requirements for marine safety
SailFabric designed and shaped to catch the wind and used to propel a vessel.
Sail clothFabric part of a sail
Sail tackVertex of a sail triangle fixed to the boat or a spinnaker pole
sail tack, sheet trackTrack equipped with a carriage to change sheet position easily and fast
Sail up - verb -To sail towards a point located windward (or underset)
SailclothRaw canvas used in the past to produce sails, bags and hammocks. It is used in the deck of some vintage boats for a non-slip effect
Sailing classGroup of sailing boats sharing the same design features, recognised by the the International Sailing Federation (ISAF)
Sailing directionsA book with useful information about navigation, coast and harbours
Sailing point, sailing trimDirection of the bow in relation to wind direction
SchoonerBoat with two identical masts, with trysail or mainsail, with or without bowsprit
Schooner.A sailing ship carrying two or more masts bearing fore and aft sails, with the mizzen forward of the mainmast.
Scope of the cableThe length of the anchor rope or chain
Scull - verb -To row with a single oar
ScupperThe openings in the bulwarks that allow drainage over the side
Sea anchor, floating anchorAn anchor made up of a cone which, drug in the water, slows boat motion down
Sea chest, sea water intakeValve communicating with outside from which water can be sucked or drained
SeamarkBuoy or general reference point used to identify rocks or shallows or to indicate navigable canals or bearings.
Seizing, reefing knotKnot used to join two ropes
Set sailTo leave, to heave anchor
Set taut - verb -To tighten a knot. To approach two running elements
Set taut - verb -To haul a rigging after easing it to recover a board
Set taut (adv)A particularly tight knot
SextantOptical instrument which determines latitude through the measurement of the elevation of a celestial body above the horizon
ShackieTo join two parts of a rope or a chain through a shackle or a false link. It means also to link an anchor to the chain or a buoy to a rope/chain
ShackleU-shaped iron element with a removable pin. It is used to join chain ends or to fix sails to eye bolts thorugh cringles
ShankMain element of the anchor
SheepshankA knot used to shorten a rope.
SheerThe curved fore and aft line formed by the uppermost plank of a boat.
SheetRope used to set sails
ShelterA zone protected from wind and waves
ShipownerThe owner of a vessel
Shipping laneError which can contain the navigation error
ShipyardWhere ships are built or repaired
Shoal, shallow waterAn area where the bottom shape rises near the surface
Shockcord tieElastic rope made up of a main cable and several braces, used to clew the mainsail down fast.
ShroudCable, generally made of steel, on the sides of the mast to support and reinforce it
ShroudsStanding riggings: shrouds, backstays and forestays
Sierra.Term which represents ‚S‚ in the international phonetic alphabet.
Sight - verb -To see or recognise an object
Signal buoyBuoy or beacon fixed to the anchor ring through a specific rope to indicate the anchor position and recover it if stucked
Signaling flagIf in national waters it is red with a white diagonal, it signals the presence of a scuba diver. In international waters, it must show the alpha flag of the international code
SkegSupport located in front of the rudder to protect and support it
SkylightOpening in the deck
SkysailTriangular sail located between two masts
SlideHook mounted on hail eadropess to allow the junction with stays
SlipDifference between the real propeller forward in water and that one it would have if screws in a solid.
Slip - verb -, ease out - verb -Let a rope or a chain run free but always with control
SlipwayInclined plan finishing in water used to launch small boats
SloopA sailing vessel carrying a single mast and a single fore sail
Snatch-blockA block which can be opened to allow a rope to be looped
Soling.One-design craft with fixed keel designed by Jean Herman Linge; it's the biggest boat of the olympic class, with a length of 8.15x1.90 m l'its crew is made up of 3 people
SonarIntrument to measure the depth or distance of an object. See also Depth meter
Sorrentine feluccaThin boat with no decks
South windWind blowing from South
South-west windWind blowing from South-West
spanSystem of cables to distribute traction, generally used for awnings.See also LazyJack
SparShaft located horinzontally to the mast where Latin sails are inserted
Spare materialsSpare parts used to replace broken equipments
Spare partsSpare parts of any boat equipment
Special signalsThey don't help navigation but they indicate a particular area or situation, whose nature can be determined by referring to maps or other documents.
SpectraCommercial name of Dyneema, a very resistant synthetic fibre used for ropes
Spill - verb -To ease the sheet so that the sail does not fill completely.
SpinnakerVery thin nylon sail, often coloured, used to sail downwind or a beam wind
Spinnaker poleA spar used to maintain a sail away from the bow
spliceTo join the ends of two lines, or make a loop, by weaving the untwisted lays into the bight.
SpringSquaresail above the fore sail
SpringlineA long dockline which is run from the bow aft to the dock, or from the stern forward to the dock.
SpritsailFore and aft sail where the peak is fixed on the basis of the mast and there is no boom
Spuce.Wood used for the construction of masts; it's light, resistant and elastic.
Squall, galeWaves high enough, with strong wind. Degree 8 in Beaufort scale, equal to over 40 knots
SquaresailTrapezoidal sail fixed on the upper side of yards, excellent for running free but not good for sailing close to wind
SSBReceiver/transmitter for long-ray communications, acronym of ‚single side band‚
StabilityThe relative tendancy of a ship to remain upright in the face of wind and waves.
StallWhen sails or rudder loose their lift, like plane wings
StanchionA vertical metal post mounted at the edge of the deck to which a rail or cables are attached as a safety measure.
Standing partStanding terminal part of a cable, fixed on a ring. The ring or spar which the cable is fixed on.
Standing riggingMetal cables or standing ropes supporting the masts
StarOne-design craft with bulb keel; designed by William Gardne in 1911; it measures 6.92x 1.73 m and it has a sail area of 26 square metres
Star boardRight side of the boat
StarboardThe right side of a vessel when seen by someone facing the bow
StarcutA particular spinnaker with star-shaped panels; today it is replaced by the gennaker
StaySteel cable between tanchions and pulpits which forms a protection handrail
StaysailTriangular fore sail used together with gennaker
Steer - verb -To direct the course of a vessel
StempostA vertical post, at the front of the keel, that forms the main part of the bow
Step, mast-stepMast basis seat
Stern gear, stern tubeTube fixed to the hull or a propeller where a shaft passes through
Stern postTerminal part of the stern
Stern quarterLateral part of the boat on the sides of the stern.
SticcareTo haul up on the wind and stop only when sails start to flap
StickAn extension of rudder
StopTo hook a rope or a chain so that it keeps in tension while it is fixed in a permanent way
StopperHook or lever to block the anchor or the chain after dropping the anchor.
Stopper, backstayGuy used to fix a rope or a chain
StoreSupplies stocked on board for use as needed during a voyage, food included
StormSudden violent weather event with rain and lightings
StraleOne-design craft with centreboard designed by Ettore Santarelli; it is a two-seater with mainsail jib and spinnaker( 13.50 x 1.70 m)
StrandTo get struck with the keel on the bottom, for example in the rocks.
StreamWater motion generated by wind, tides or bottoms.
StringerReinforcement of the junction between hull and deck
Strong squallWaves with crests which start to roll; thicker and thicker foam. Degree 9 in Beaufort Scale
Strop, lizardPart of a rope linked to a ring through a knot or a splice to fix an object
Stud, cross barMooring rope perpendicular to the boat, used together with springline
Stuffing boxCilynder where rudder shaft is located
Super buoyDanger buoy with a very visible light
Surf - verb -To go over the wave generated by the forward; the hull goes out of water by increasing speed
SurferThe person who steers a wind- surf.
Swab, mopBroom, besom to wash and dry decks
SwingingMethod to calculate compass mistakes due to magnetic deviations. The result is reported on a table which will be used to plot the course