PalmettaTriangular part made up of a rigid wooden or net structure fixed between the bow and the bowsprit
Pantry, Provisions room, Food roomRoom or locker for carrying food
Papa.Term which represents ‚P‚ in the international phonetic alphabet.
ParallelAny circle parallel to equator
Parallel barInstrument used for plotting the course.
PascalUnit of measurement equal to 1 Newton/sq.m
Paying offSudden violent bearing away caused by wind and rudder loss of control
PeelingSpinnaker change while a second one is aloft.
PelorusInstrument for polar bearings, that is the anular distance between two poinst to determine a position
PeriplusCircumnavigation of an island
Pier, mole, wharf, quayStructure for mooring or harbour protection.
Pilot bridgeShip bridge deck
Pilot's boatSmall motorboat used to steer ships into harbours or to drive a pilot aboard.
Pin, split pin, cotter pinMetal bar inserted in the hole of a screw or the eyelet of a pivot, then bent forked to not escape
PintlePart of a rudder brace made up of a pivot sliding into the gudgeon
PitchingOscillation around the horizontal axis of a boat
PlankingExternal covering of a wooden boat
PlotterCircle gratuated used to measure angles while plotting the course.
PlugHole used for emptying bilge water. It is closed through a watertight screw top
PointAngle equal to 1/32° of 360°
PolarArctic Circle; parallel which bounds a polar region; that one in the North is called Arctic Circle; that one in the South, on the contrary, is called Counter-Circle
Polar bearingAngular distance between a bot bow and an object
Port sideLeft side of a vessel when seen by someone facing the bow
Port/starboard tackSide which wind comes from
PortholeOpening in the hull with a watertight closing. Usually round.
Preventer sheetSpare or reinforcing sheet
Pricking, plot the courseGeometric operations on a map to establish and follow the course
PropellerTerminal part of the propulsion system made up of a series of inclined blades which screw in water and push the boat
PulleyTransmission element made up of a rotating disk. It is generally used to gear running riggings.
Pulley, sheaveWheel of a block
PulpitSecure railing, generally on the ends of the boat
PumpingForbidden rigging in regatta consisting in moving bird wing sails continuously and fast.
Punto cospicuoReference point easily recognisable on the coast
PylonPoles fixed on the sea bottom to indicate the navigable way in low bottoms; also used for mooring