CabinA compartment below offering accommodations for passengers and crew.
Cam jam cleatsDeck equipment to block sheets
Capsize - verb -When a boat turns over
CapstanBig winch with a vertical cylinder
Cardinal signalsThey indicate that deeper waters of the zone where the signal is located are in the quadrant sharing the same name
Careen - verb -To put a boat on a side through counterweights or ropes in order to clean, caulk, or repair the bottom .
Cargo boom, derrickCrane fixed on a ship bridge for loading/unloading merchandise
CastTo untie a knot or release a rope
CastleThe foreward most compartment above the deck, used in 19th-century-sailing boats
CastriaA particular type of mooring through which a boat keeps a certain distance from the pier, even in case of surf
CatSmall yacht with a single mast on which only the mainsail can be hoisted
cat craneCrane used to secure anchors
Cat the anchor - verb -To hook the main anchor to a specific crane in order to put it on the bow.
CatamaranBoat with two twin hulls joined together
CatchTo stop a running rope or chain. The verb also refers to an anchor holding on the bottom. It usually refers to mooring ropes.
Cathead, catFore crane used to cat the anchor.
CaulkingTo empty the space between plating axis with insulating material in order to make it watertight
Caved stayAluminium profile with two cavities mounted on the forestay. It allows to ride fore sails without any slides, while increasing efficiency and allowing the use of furlers
CavitationThe effect caused when air is drawn down into the water by a propeller, resulting in loss of power, overspending of the engine and propeller, and pitting of the metal surfaces of the propeller
Celestial navigationIt allows to determine a ship position by measuring angles between the horizon and known altitude of sun, moon, planets and stars.
Centreboard caseCompartment of the centreboat within hull
Chain platesReinforced joints on the deck where stays are clasped.
Chain sagBend of a rope or a stay when exposed to a stress; generally referred to the bend of the jib stay moved by the wind
CharlieTerm which represents ‚C‚ in the international phonetic alphabet.
CharterSynonym of rental. Reffered to a rented boat
ChockA deck fitting used to secure moveable gear
CircumnavigateTo sail around a body of land and return to the starting point.
CleatSmall bitt generally used to stop running riggins, such as halyards
ClewThe lower aft corner of a fore and aft sail, or the lower corner at the foot of a square sail
Clew outhaulRope linked to the mainsail clew which passes through a gear located at the boom yard in order to regulate the sail base
ClipperFast sailing vessels built in the 19th century for goods transport in long ocean navigationsiframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ydsnQe9Ou6s" frameborder="0" width="560" height="315">/iframe>
Close-hauledSailing point which allow a boat to sail the wind up, usually between 60° and 30° iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OuTrEz5eFo0" frameborder="0" width="560" height="315">/iframe>
CloudWater vapour condensed as a result of pressure and temperature differences.
Clove hitchKnot used for mooring or to fix fenders.
CoastLine between sea and land
Coastal navigationTo sail towards the coast
CockpitExternal part of a boat, where riggings and rudder are usually located.
CoilTo turn a rope on itself
CollarJunction line of shrouds; ring which reinforces masts; sliding ring which allow sail to move on masts
CollisionCollision between boats
CommandoThin wire used to block the terminal part of ropes so that they dont' fray
CompanionHatch of an opening in the deck
CompassInstrument which, tanks to Earth's magnetism, indicates a fixed point and helps to maintain a course
CompensationOperation to minimize the compass mistake due to the onboard metal parts
Counter-jib polePole which supports sails foremost the jib
Courtesy flagFlag of the hoist country that must be hoisted when sailing in the territorial waters of a foreign country.It must be hoisted below the national one
CradleA frame built to support a vessel when it is hauled out.
CraftAll watercraft with a length of less than 10 metres, used in marine or inner waters, including sailing, motor and row boats. The category includes smaller boats, such as rowing catamarans, paddleboats, sailing boards, jet skis and water motors../ metres
CrewPeople boarded in the boat
CringleA heavily reinforced grommet at the corner of a sail to which a line is fastened.
Cross-treeSpacer placed on masts to increase the traction angle of stays
CunninghamA specialized downhaul used in some racing sailboats to adjust the shape of the sail luff (named for its inventor.)
Cutwater, breakwaterPart of the bow cutting waves
CycloneArea where atmopheric pressure is low but increasing inwards. Its motion and winds are counterclockwise.