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There are currently 782 names in this directory
18-foot
Australian light one-design boat with a very large sail area
4.20
One-design two-seater boat with mainsail, jib and spinnaker designed by Christian Mauy. She measures 4.20x1.63
4.70
One-design two-seater boat designed by Andrea Corno, male and female olympic class since 1976. She measures 4.70x1.68 m.
Aback
To haul a sail windward in order to produce a push opposite to the driving direction
Abaft, aft
Direction referred to stern
Abandon
To abandon a hopeless boat
Abeam
It refers to anything located laterally to the boat (an object, wind or waves)
Admiralty anchor
One of the most popular types of anchor
Aft wind
Wind coming from stern
Ahead, forward
Direction referred to the bow
Alidade
E'Upper part of instruments used to measure angular distances, such as sextant and theodolite
Alignment
Alignment between two known points used to determine position
Alla lunga
Mooring ropes fixed fore (painter) and aft (spring)
Aloft
Towards or in the rigging above the deck
Alpha
Term which represents A in the international phonetic alphabet.
Alto-cumulus
A cloud characterized by globular masses usually found at an altitude between 2400 and 6000 m.
Alto-stratus
Grey cloud which usually precedes heavy weather
Ammarata
It indicates a chain or a rope caught on anchor arms which impedes its normal working
Anchor
A heavy differently shaped device which digs into the sea bottom to hold a ship in position.
Anchor - verb -
To stop a vessel through an anchor
Anchor crown
The part of an anchor where the shank and arms join together.
Anchor ring
Ring or hole in the shank used to link the chain
Anchor rode
Cable fixed to a grapnel, generally used on tenders
Anchor stock
Part of the anchor which allows to keep a proper position
Anchorage
A location suitable for anchoring a ship safely, usually sheltered.
Anchoring ground
Bay or roadstead suitable for anchorage
Anemometer
Weather instrument that indicates the speed of the wind.
Answering pennant
Flag of the international code of signals which, if hoisted,means ‚ I've understood; if it is mid-hoisted, it means ‚I've received the message but I haven't interpreted it yet; if it is hoisted by a jury, it can have different meanings
Anticyclone
Area where atmospheric pressure is high and gradually decreasing outwards. Its motion and winds are clockwise
Antifouling
Paint containing specific elements which prevent marine vegetation from taking root on the hull
Apparent wind
The effective wind direction and speed derived from the combination of the actual wind and the motion of the sails through the air.
Archimedes' thrust
The upward buoyant force that is excerted on a body immersed in a fluid, whether fully or partially submerged, is equal to the weight of the fluid that the body displaces. A boat can float because it is lighter than the water it pushes aside.
Arm
Part of the anchor penetrating in the sea bottom
Arrangement of sails
All sails on a boat
Arrembato
Gergo mari aresco Genovese per dire appoggiato dato volta
As you go, stead as you go
To keep the current course. Order given by the helmsman
Astern, aft
Rear part of a boat
At anchor
Referred to a boat at anchor
Athwart
Referred to wind or to a bearing perpendicular to the boat centre line
Atmosperic pressure
The weight of air extending vertically from the observer position to the limits of the atmosphere,
Atoll
Island made up of a particular formation of land and lagoons
Auto-inflatable
Single or collective rescue system provided with a penumatic inflation system. It can be manual or operated aautomaticlly when it touches water.
Awning
Canvas shelter to protect the deck from sun or rain during stops
Azimut
Arc fomed between North and a point
Azimut circle
Graduated circle on the compass to allow measurements
Back an anchor - verb -
To reinforce the mooring by putting two anchors in sequence
Back sail
Sail which pushes in an opposite direction to motion, used to brake or keep the boat stationary
Back water
Marine waves in a harbour
backed anchor
An anchor removed from its seat and ready to be dropped in the water
Backstay
Standing rigging whichs support the astern mast
Bail
To clear water out of a boat
Bail - verb -
To empty the water entered aboard through a bailer
Bailer
A bucket or dipper used for removing bilgewater from a boat.
Ballast
Heavy weight which adjusts the draft of a ship and improve stability
Bandiera a riva
Flag on the upper part of masts
Barbotin
Element of the winch with a particular shape which allows to recover chains
Barnacles
Marine conic crostaceans which adhere to hulls, very difficult to remove.
Barogram
Diagram of the atmosperic pressure trend written by the pen of a barograph on a paper wrapped by a cylinder
Barograph
Instrument used to measure atmosperic pressure. Similar to barometer but providing an immediate measurement
Barycentre
Centre of gravity
Base
The lowest side of a sail, between clat and clew point
Basin
A pool on sea level, where bottom can be repaired
Basin, dock
Equipped and sheltered area where ships can stopa
Bathymetric
On naval maps, it is the line which joins points of equal depth
Bathyscope
A funnel with transparent bottom used to observe sea bottom
Batten
Rigid profile inserted into sail leech to contribute to their shape
Batten pocket
Batten compartment
Beacon
Small buoy
Beam
Structural elements which support the deck. The width of a ship at her widest part
Bear away - sailing verb -
It indicates a bow moving away from the wind direction
Bear away - verb -
To move away from a mooring, a quay or another boat
Bearing
Angular distance between magnetic North and the observed object
Bearing away
To increase the angle in relation to the direction where apparent wind comes from
Bearing compass
Compass equipped with azimut devices
Beaufort Francis
English admiral who lived in the 19th century. He invented the homonymous scale used to measure wind
Beaufort Scale
A classification of wind force into 12 categories commonly used by seamen iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WwDNWm6IEVw" frameborder="0" width="560" height="315">/iframe>
Becalmed
Calm wind
Belay pin
Instrument used for splicing, made up of a wedge point which help strands to open
Belaying-pin rack
Wooden or steel ring on the basis of the mast, where belay pins are fixed in order to block running riggings.
Bell
In the past, it was used to mark time; today, it is used to indicate a danger singnal or position in case of low visibility.
Belly
Sail convexity
Bermudian sail
Name given to the rigs of a Bermudian sail
Berth
A bed in a boat
Bildge
The lowest part of a hull
Bilge keels
Extensible mobile wings mounted on the sides of the bottom to reduce roll
Bilge pump
A hydraulic pump to bail out the water entered in the hull.
Bill
Point of an anchor arm
Binnacle
Structure which supports the magnetic compass. It usually contains compensation magnets
Biscia
Hole in the floors or in bilge to empty water from bilge
Bitt
To fix a rope to a bitt
Block
Keel supports in a dry dock
Block coefficient
Ratio between bottom lines and a cylinder, whose diameter is equal to bottom's depth. Value 1 indicates an almost cylindrical bottom; low values indicate a thin bottom. Catamarans have the highest block coefficient
Blooper
Fore sail to be hoisted leeward the spinnaker with light winds
Board
To approach to another boat
Board - verb -
To assault a ship after boarding it.
Boarding
To direct the boat to approach another one
Boat
Term used for all crafts with a lenght between 10 and 24 metres, including sailing and motor boats.
Boat builder
A person specialised in wooden boat construction
Boat gripe
Cable or rope, usually provided with turnbuckle to fix objects
Boat hook
Wooden pole fitted with a hook or knob at one end, used for fending off or picking up lines at a dock or mooring/
Boat shed
Slipway where boats are placed to be repaired
Boatswain
The leading seaman in charge of supervising crewmembers when performing work on deck
Bolt rope
Reinforcement sewn on the sail end to increase resistence
Boom
Wooden or aluminium pole supporting the lower part of the mainsail, fixed on the mast through a junction which allows it to change direction according to wind/p
Bottom cleaning
To remove deposits from the hull
Bottom, hull
Immersed part of the hull.
Bow
The forward part of a ship
Bow anchor
An anchor placed in order to be ready to use
Bow waves, bones
Frothy waves raised by the boat
Bow-thruster
An auxiliary motor and propeller mounted athwartships at the bow, and employed to maneuver the ship sideways.
Bowline
Very popular knot forming a ring
Bowman
Member of the crew in charge of bow riggings
Bowsprit
Wooden or aluminium pole supporting the lower part of the mainsail, fixed on the mast through a junction which allows it to change direction according to wind
Brace
To move the spinnaker pole from the forestay
Brace - verb -
To haul the manoeuvring rope by opening a yard or the spinnaker pole
Brail
A rope fixed to sail sides to fold them
Bravo
Term which represents ‚B‚ in the international phonetic alphabet (ICAO)
Break down, trip - verb -
To set sail by detaching the anchor from the bottom
Breakwater
Raised borders used to prevent water from entering the cockpit
Breeching
Mooring cable located on the bow or the stern extended along the hull to fix to a quay
Breeze
Coastal wind caused by a difference in temperature between land and sea.
Bridge deck
Place which a ship is steered from
Bridle, flap
End of anchor arms
Bucket
Container suitable for liquids
Bulb
Swelling of the fore part of a ship to increase speed; terminal part of a centre board in a sailing boat, generally made of plumb or cast iron, used to increase stability
Bulinchia
Lever with eccentric hook to close portholes,skylights or hatches
Bulkhead
Vertical structure which separates two zones in the cabin. Sometimes, it can be watertight in order to increase safety in case of collision
Bumpkin
Small pole used to let sheet hang out outboard by increasings their efficiency and preventing them from scarping on shrouds
Bumps
Additional bumps used to change the sizes of the construction parameters of a hull
Buoy
Floating element anchored on the sea bottom for mooring or signals
Buoy rope
Rope fixed to the anchor ring
Cabin
A compartment below offering accommodations for passengers and crew.
Cable
Synonim of rope
Cam jam cleats
Deck equipment to block sheets
Capsize - verb -
When a boat turns over
Capstan
Big winch with a vertical cylinder
Cardinal signals
They 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, derrick
Crane fixed on a ship bridge for loading/unloading merchandise
Cast
To untie a knot or release a rope
Castle
The foreward most compartment above the deck, used in 19th-century-sailing boats
Castria
A particular type of mooring through which a boat keeps a certain distance from the pier, even in case of surf
Cat
Small yacht with a single mast on which only the mainsail can be hoisted
cat crane
Crane 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.
Catamaran
Boat with two twin hulls joined together
Catch
To stop a running rope or chain. The verb also refers to an anchor holding on the bottom. It usually refers to mooring ropes.
Cathead, cat
Fore crane used to cat the anchor.
Caulking
To empty the space between plating axis with insulating material in order to make it watertight
Caved stay
Aluminium 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
Cavitation
The 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 navigation
It allows to determine a ship position by measuring angles between the horizon and known altitude of sun, moon, planets and stars.
Centreboard case
Compartment of the centreboat within hull
Chain plates
Reinforced joints on the deck where stays are clasped.
Chain sag
Bend of a rope or a stay when exposed to a stress; generally referred to the bend of the jib stay moved by the wind
Charlie
Term which represents ‚C‚ in the international phonetic alphabet.
Charter
Synonym of rental. Reffered to a rented boat
Chock
A deck fitting used to secure moveable gear
Circumnavigate
To sail around a body of land and return to the starting point.
Cleat
Small bitt generally used to stop running riggins, such as halyards
Clew
The lower aft corner of a fore and aft sail, or the lower corner at the foot of a square sail
Clew outhaul
Rope linked to the mainsail clew which passes through a gear located at the boom yard in order to regulate the sail base
Clipper
Fast 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-hauled
Sailing 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>
Cloud
Water vapour condensed as a result of pressure and temperature differences.
Clove hitch
Knot used for mooring or to fix fenders.
Coast
Line between sea and land
Coastal navigation
To sail towards the coast
Cockpit
External part of a boat, where riggings and rudder are usually located.
Coil
To turn a rope on itself
Collar
Junction line of shrouds; ring which reinforces masts; sliding ring which allow sail to move on masts
Collision
Collision between boats
Commando
Thin wire used to block the terminal part of ropes so that they dont' fray
Companion
Hatch of an opening in the deck
Compass
Instrument which, tanks to Earth's magnetism, indicates a fixed point and helps to maintain a course
Compensation
Operation to minimize the compass mistake due to the onboard metal parts
Counter-jib pole
Pole which supports sails foremost the jib
Courtesy flag
Flag 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
Cradle
A frame built to support a vessel when it is hauled out.
Craft
All 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
Crew
People boarded in the boat
Cringle
A heavily reinforced grommet at the corner of a sail to which a line is fastened.
Cross-tree
Spacer placed on masts to increase the traction angle of stays
Cunningham
A specialized downhaul used in some racing sailboats to adjust the shape of the sail luff (named for its inventor.)
Cutwater, breakwater
Part of the bow cutting waves
Cyclone
Area where atmopheric pressure is low but increasing inwards. Its motion and winds are counterclockwise.
Dacron
Commercial name of a polymer used in sails
Damage
Damage at one among the boat systems
Dart
One-design-catamaran with a lenght of 5.48x2.28 metres and a sail area of 16.07 square metres
Dead point
Unused part in a rope or a cable
Dead reckoning navigation
Sailing without any precise reference points. Position is determined according to course, speed and time.
Deck
Walkable surface of a vessel
Deck - verb -
To hoist and place masts
Deck house
Superstructure above the deck
Delta.
Term which represents ‚D‚ in the international phonetic alphabet.
Depression
Area of low atmospheric pressure
Depth contour
A line whih joinsg poinst of equal depth on maps, see also ‚bathymetric‚ ip
Depth meter
Electronic or manual instrument used to mesure depth
Deviation card
A record of the amount of deviation of a ship compass caused by local magnetic effects
Digital map
Geo-referencered digital cartography for digital navigation devices
Dinghy
Small pleasure boat or rigid tender
Displacement
Weight of the volume of the water pushed aside by a boat; it is equal to the boat weight.
Dodger
Raised borders used to prevent water from entering the cockpit
Double - verb -
To go over, to pass by a cape or an obstacle.
Double halyard
Halyard with a tackle fixed on the sail end: The double circuit halves the necessary force for the hoisting
Downhaul
Rigging which pulls the boom downwards. If referred to main sail boom, it is called vang.
Draft
The vertical distance between the waterline and the deepest part of the keel
Drag - verb -
An anchor which, after failing in holding the bottom, slides on it because of the boat traction, caused, in its turn, by wind, stream or waves
Draught
Maximum depth of a vessel
Draw - verb -
It indicates a sailing boat driving. Sails pushing the boat.
Dress
Decoration made up of a series of little flags
dress - verb -
To adorn a boat with little flags on the line running from the bow to the stern and on the top of the mast (s). See also Full Dress
Dressing ship
To adorn a boat with little flags along the line running from bow to stern passing trough the top of the mast(s)
Drift angle
Change of the course angle caused by the stream action
Drifting
When a boat is pushed by stream
Drip pan
Rise around machinery to impede liquid pouring
Drop the anchor - verb -
To drop the anchor on the bottom
Dyneema
Very resistant synthetic fibre used to produce ropes. Its commercial name is ‚spectra‚ i
Ease
To slacken a rope, opposite of hauling aft
East-wind
Wind blowing from East
Eco.
Term which represents ‚E‚ in the international phonetic alphabet.
Eddy water
Zone of relatively calm sea, upwind to a vessel which is drifting leeward
Electric generator
Equipment which provides electricity aboard when there are no ground connections
Ephemeris
A catalogue of tables showing the location of various celestial bodies
Equator
A great circle of the earth which is equidistant from both poles at every point; zero degrees latitude
Equipment, rig
Everything necessary to sail, its category determines the kind of boat. In case of small rowboats it indicates the crew
Expose
To set a sail in order to offer a larger surface to wind; a necessary action to remove the spinnaker from the mainsail covering when running before wind
Eye bolt, clevis
Metal ring in the hull to hook tackles or pulleys
Fall off - verb -
When course is changed by wind
Felucca
Synonym of thin fast boat
Fender
Elastic equipment mounted on the boat sides to protect them
Fetch
It indicates a zone where wind keeps the same speed and direction. It is measured in miles by starting from the coast which the wind comes from and in relation to its motion.
Figurehead
Decoration located below the bowsprit
Fire extinguisher
System made up of and under-pressure cylinder containing liquids, gas or powders to extuinguish fire
Fit out - verb -
To prepare a boat before sailing off
Fitting out
Equipments and systems installed on a boat to make it functional
Fix, ship's position
To identify the ship's position on a map
Flag
Generally exposed on the stern, it indicates the boat's nationality. If abroad, the flag of the host country is exposed on the starboard shrouds. Other flags can be used to identify clubs or signals
Flatten - verb -
To stretch in order to flatten the sail profile
Floating line
Line where the hull touches water
Floating pontoon
A float used for making a temporary bridge.
Flooding
Board water inside the hull. It can be an intentional decision to increase stability or an accidental event
Flooring, cabin planking
The floorings of a boat
Flooring, grating
Floor in the cabin,above the boat bottom
Flying
It refers to a semi-standing rigging or equipment which can be used as a running rigging.
Flying jib
Sail above the jib, sometimes defined yankee. On ships with squaresails, it is the third stay sail on the bowsprit mast
Fog
Condensed water vapor in cloudlike masses lying close to the ground and limiting visibility (less than 1 Km, otherwise it is called haze)
Footrope
Cable slack along yards to lean on during sails collection
Fore and aft sail
Trapezoidal mainsail supported by a spanker and fixed on a boom
Fore mast
The foremost mast
Fore royal sail
Yard and relative trapezoidal squaresail, at the top of the fore mast.
Fore stay sail
Triangular sail between the mast and the jib
Fore topgallant sail
Yard and relative squaresail fixed on the foremast
Forestay
Shroud which supports the fore mast
Foxtrot.
Term which represents ‚F‚ in the international phonetic alphabet.
Frame, rib
Part of the hull which defines its shape
Framework
Group of ribs supporting the shell
Free
Sailing before the wind
Free board
Emerged par of the hull. See also ‚deadwork
Fresh breeze
Waves, breakers, sprays. Degree 6 in Beaufort Scale
Freshen
Increase in wind intensity
Full stern
To sail with the wind crushing into the stern; to follow a course in the same direction of wind .
Futtock, timber
Curved parts of a ship hull. Elements where to place oars and to transfer push to the boat
Gaff topsail
Triangular sail above a fore and aft mainsail
Gaff, peak
Pole oblique to the mast
Gangboard
A small bridge for getting on and off a vessel
Gangplank
Big gangboard generally used on ships
Gangway
A ladder dropped laterally to climb up or down
Gararing
To do a series of maintenance operations which prevent deterioration
Gasket
Part of a rope used to collect or furl sails on a spar
Gate
System adopted in some particular valves to close a sea cock or exhaust
Gears
All hardware, blocks, chocks and shrouds which contribute to keep masting in position
Gennaker
Fore sail whose name comes from ‚Genoa‚ e and ‚Spinnaker‚
Genoa
Big triangular sail overlapping the mainsail
Gentle breeze
Wind forms waves with white crests. Degree 2 in Beaufort scale
Get stranded
When the hull leans on or get stuck on the bottom, both intentionally or accidentally
Gmt
Acronym of Greenwich Mean Time or Greenwich Meridian Time
Gnav
Vang or reversed tripping line made up of a spar pushing boom downwards
Gnomonics
Cartographic representations of Earth's surface
Golf.
Term which represents the ‚G‚ in the international phonetic alphabet.
Goose foot
When a tackle made up of 2 or more ropes gathers in only one to exercise traction
Gooseneck, parrel
The fitting where boom is fixed
Gore
Canvas supports at the sail edges
GPS
Electronic device that determines position in real time by interacting with several orbiting satellites.
Grapnel
A small anchor with four or five flukes
Grating
p class=Walkable wooden grill above floorings to let water exit
Greenwich.
Reference meridian.
Groove (of the mast/boom)
Carving in the mast/boom where the sail side is inserted
Gross tonnage
The entire capacity of a ship expressed as one gross ton for each 100 cubic feet of internal volume. It is calculated with the following formula:: length x widthx height x 0.25
Gudgeon
Female part of a rudder pivot
Gunwale
The top edge of the deck which helps to walk on in case of heeled boat
Gust
Weak and irregular wind
Gybe
To change tacks by steering away from the wind so that the leach of the sail swings across the eye of the wind.
Gybe - verb -
Violent change of boom position
Gyrocompass
Compass containing a gyroscope instead of a magnet
Halyard
Fabric or steel running rigging, used to hoist sails
Halyardman
Member of the crew, especially on racing boats, in charge of the managemment of halyards
Handrail
Railing made up of sanchions and metal ropes or tubes
Hatch
Opening in the deck or deckhouse used to air, illuminate or load materials.
Haul
To pull a rope or a chain. It can be also referred to towing.
Haul taut - verb -
To strech a rope
Haul taut, haul - verb -
To set up a rigging (halyard or sheet) in a sailing boat
Hawse, hawsehole
An opening cut high in the bow at the knightheads or hawse timbers through which the anchor rode will be led.
Hawsehole
Hole in the bow where the anchor chain passes through
Haze
Reduced visibility but over 1 Km; under that distance , it is called fog.
Head
The top of a sail, where halyards are hitched.
Head-rope
Part of the sail sliding into a specific point of the mast or hooking into stays
Heading shift
Change of wind direction caused by a variation in intensity, direction or by the presence of an obstacle.
Headway
Inertial motion, with no propulsion
Heave to - verb -
Method which allows to stop, or almost, a boat by placing sails so that equal and opposing forces are created
Heel
A strong inclination of the hull caused by the wind or a wrong manoeuvre. The side of the hull which is sumberged by the water
Helmsman
A petty officer assigned the task of steering the ship on a course
Hoist
To lift or pull up heavy gear by using block and tackle, To lift sails
Hold
Part of a ship used for carrying cargo
Holding ground
A bottom with good anchorage qualities
Hook - verb -
To secure an object to a rope through a shackle or a hook
Horizon
Circle beyond which it's not possible to see. Its distance depends on the height the observer is
Hotel.
Term which represents ‚H‚ in the international phonetic alphabet.
Hull, bottom
Part of the hull which is submerged
Hurricane
Very high waves; air full of lather and spurts; completely white sea. Degree 12 of Beaufort Scale.
Hygrometer
Instrument designed to measure relative humidity.
IALA system
International coding system of light signals, buoys and top marks
ICAO.
International Civil Aviation Organization, international phonetic alphabet used in maritime and air navigation in order to compose letters and numbers in all languages.
Inboard
Everything inside the hull; it is often used to indicate the engine
Inboard engine
Engine installed inside the boat
Inboard-outboard
Usually referring to specific engines, it indicates what is partially in and out of the hull
Inboard-outboard engine
Engine whose mechanical parts are both inside and outside the boat
Incatastata
Mainsail blocked on the mast. Anchor got caught on the bottom.
Inclinometer
Instrument used to measure the angle of heeling.
India.
Term which represents ‚I‚ in the international phonetic alphabet.
Interface
Two or more electronic devices which exchange data through a NMEA 2000 or 183 connection.
International name
Group of 4 letters which identify a craft.
International spelling
Radiotelegraphic phonetic alphabet, often called NATO phonetic alphabet, used to articulate words
Inverinarsi
A rope which is spiral-twisted because it hasn't been rolled up properly.
Isolated danger signal
It indicates a limited danger surrounded by navigable waters.
Jammed
Ropes stucked and difficult to free
Jib
Fore triangular sail.
Jib boom
Pole which supports the jib
Jib furler
Drum fixed to the stay to roll, partially or totally, a sail
Juliet.
Term which represents ‚J‚ in the international phonetic alphabet./
Keel
Terminal part of a hull made up of a blade which tends to oppose leeway
Keelson
Longitudinal timber which, in wodden hulls, covers the hawse timber
Kevlar
Synthetic resistant material used to produce sails
Kilo.
Term which represents ‚K‚ in the international phonetic alphabet..
Knightheads
Parts which help to fix planking
Knot
A bend or hitch thrown in a rope. A speed over the water of one nautical mile per hour.
Krang
Whale carcass
Land - verb -
To approach to shore or a beach, different from yawing or mooring.
Land - verb -
To arrive to a coast or a harbour
Lateen sail
Triangular sail supported by an antenna fixed obliquely to the mast
Lateral sign- A region
Red or green, used by day or night to indicate both right and left sides of a channel. In region B, colours are inverted.
Lateral signals
They are divided in two regions: A and B
Latitude
The angular distance between the Equator and the considered point
Launch - verb -, launch (n)
The act of putting a boat in the water through a slipway or a crane
Lead
Electonic device for depth measurement. Rope provided with plumb for a manual measurement
Leak
Accidental breakage of the hull which lets water come in
Leech
Astern side of any vertical item
Leech line
Rope inserted along all the side of a sail to change its tension
Leech, roach
Rear side of sail
Leeward
Side of the boat opposite to wind direction
Leeway angle
Change of the course angle caused by the wind action
Leeway,sideslipping
Lateral move of the boat caused by wind
Lie-to
Speed suitable to secure the boat in heavy weather
Lie-to - verb -
Typical in bad weather. It can be done with or without sails; generally, the boat heads to the wind. This motion creates an area of calm sea on the windward side which stabilizes the boat.
Life jacket
Jacket made of floating material, usually styrofoam or cork. Today, the market offers many inflatable or auto-inflatabe models.
Lift
Element perpendicular to the force generated on the surface of a solid as the result of its motion in a fluid
Light airs
Light wind, small waves. Degree 1 in Beaufort scale
Light vessel
Anchored vessel with light signals
Lighthouse
Jacket made of floating material, usually styrofoam or cork. Today, the market offers many inflatable or auto-inflatabe models.
Lima.
Term which represents ‚L‚ in the international phonetic alphabet.
Line furler
Tube or "H" to roll a rope on
Line-throwing gun
System used to throw a bullet, generally a rope ball which a line is clasped to
Line, hand line
A small diameter rope
Link
Chain ring
Locker
A small compartment or chest used for storage.
Log
Instrument to measure the speed of a boat
Longitude
Angular distance between the main meridian and the considered point
Loof
Lateral part of the bow
Loran
Long Range Navigation. Navigation transmitters ashore that transmit unique signals that can be identified and located by a ship navigator to determine position.
Low sails
Squaresails hoisted on lower yards
Lower
To bring a sail down by releasing its halyards
Lower sails or courses
Low sails in ships provided with squaresails
Lower studding-sail
Sail on the sides of squaresails
Lubber's hole
Opening at the basis of tops
Lubber's line
Line in the compass indicating the bow direction
Luff
To dicrease the angle in relation to the apparent wind direction
Luff, bolt rope
The forward edge of a sail. It can include a rope to be thicker and stronger and be inserted in the mast
Luffing
A boat which tends to luff
Lugsail
Similar to a lateen sail, but trapezoidal and with the lower end attached to a boom
Magnetic declination
Angular distance between the geographic North and the magnetic one
magnetic deviation
Difference between magnetic North and compass inclination; variation due to external elements, such as metal items near the compass; see also compass compensation
Magnetic needle
One of the two steel rhomboidal magnetic elements of a magnetic compass .
Main mast case
Point of the hull where the main mast terminal lays
Main royal sail
Yard and relative trapezoidal sail, located at the top of the mainmast, above the topgallant sail.
Mainmast
Main mast in multi-mast vessels. Main sail
Mainsail
Sail inserted on the mast or the boom, generally triangle-shaped.
Mainsail furler
Drum fixed to the mast which allows to roll, partially or totally, the mainsail
Mainsail traveller
Horizontal rail when the mainsail sheet carriage runs
Mainstay
A wooden or iron beam which supports a deck
Manhole
Opening in a bulkhead or in the deck wide enough to let a person pass through
Manrope
Wooden or metal handrail, generally mounted on the deck house
Marine signals
Lighhouses, lights, buoys which makes navigation safer
Maritime signaling
Combined cardinal-lateral system
Marline
Thin cable used for hand stitchings.
Marocchino
Cable which joins two mast heads
Mast
To fix a mast on its step
Mast foot
Terminal part at the base of the mast, usually on the relative mast-step
Mast head truck
Closure at the mast top
Mast partner
Hole in the deck where the mast passes through
Masting
L' Set of masts and stays of a boat
Match race
Regatta between two identical boats
Maximum loading
The highest wind intensity the sheets of a hoisted sail can bear
Mayday
Emergency signal indicating an extreme danger
Meltemi. Etesian wind
Summer northern widn which blows in the Aegean Sea.
Mercator projection
Type of projection of Earth's surface on maps
Mercatore.
Belgian geographer who invented the homonymous projection
Meridians
A great circle of the Earth passing through the poles and perpendicular to parallelsThe Greenwich meridian also serves as the basis for the world standard time zone system. (UMT)
Metacentric height
Distance between metacenter and barycenter. It indicates the boat's stability
Mike.
Term which represents ‚M‚ in the international phonetic alphabet..
Millibar.
Unit of measuremnt of the atmosperic pressure, equal to 1000 dynes per square centimeter.
Mistral
Wind which blows from North-West
Mistral.
One-design sailing board designed by E. Prade; Olympic class since 1996. it measures 3,.80x0.68 m; with a 6-square-meter-sail area
Mizzen
The smallest aftermost mast on a sailing vessel having more than one mast
Mizzen sail
Mainsail hoisted on the mizzen mast
Mizzen staysail
Sail above kitchen stack
Mizzen topgallant sail
Squaresail hoisted on the mizzen mast
Moderate wind
Longer and choppier waves.Degree 4 in Beaufort Scale
Moonraker, moonsail
A light squaresail set above a skysail
Moor - verb -
To come alongside a quay
Moor - verb -, mooring
To stop the boat by fixing it to a pier or a quay through some ropes or an anchor.
Moor tightly head and stern - verb -
To moor fore and aft, both to a pier and through anchors
Moore with two anchors ahead
Mooring which uses two anchors placed on the bottom laterally to the boat. The two anchoring lines are divided and they both leave from the bow fitting. Useful when weather is bad.
Mooring post
Heavy structure, generally made of cement, on the sea bottom provided with a ring to which a mooring chain is fixed
Mooring-post
Reference point located on the coast
Morse.
Telegraphic alphabet invented by Samuel Morse: it consists of a group of lines and points which represent all letters.
Motorsailer
A boat which includes the features of both sailing and motor boats
Move on
To move a boat at a sufficient speed to manoeuvre
MPS
Acronym of Multi Purpose Sail, an asymmetric sail similar to gennaker, used in cruises
Mustafà
Auxiliary rudder system. A mechanical instrument used on sailing boats to maintain a stable course in relation to wind.It is an authomatic pilot which doesn't use energy, which is important in long navigations.
Nadir
The part of the celestial sphere located directly opposite the zenith
Name
Description
Nautical mile
The length of one minute of arc of a great circle on the surface of the earth equal to 1820 metres
Nautophone
An electrically operated horn for giving fog warnings
Navigation lights
Lights for night navitation
Navigator
A crewman trained and qualified in the practice of determining position and setting courses
Navionics.
Digital cartography builder.
NEMEA
Standard communication device for marine electronic devices
Nimbus
Dark cloud without a specific shape
Nipper, gasket
Reinforcement which shelters mooring cables. Oakum which wraps the propeller axis inside the stern tube: if wet with water, it increases its volume and makes the environment watertighe
NMEA 0183
Standard of GPS data communication
NMEA 2000
It contains the requirements of a communication network to connect marine electronic devices on ships
North wind
Northerly wind
North-east wind
Wind coming from North-East
November.
Term which represents ‚N‚ in the international phonetic alphabet.
Numerical flag
Trapezoidal flag used to indicate signals, such as numbers or answering pennant
Ochette.
The first white crests which form on the sea surface with a wind over 15 knots.
Offshore
Offshore navigation
Oilskin
Waterproof jacket, once made of waterproof canvas
One design
Series of boats with the same size and design which can compete with no compensated times.
One-off.
Racing boat prototype
Onshore wind
Side exposed to bad weather: wind and waves in a harbour or a roadstead
Optimist.
Boat with centreboard, chine hull and flat bottom designed by Clark Mills in 1954 ;she measures 2.30x1.13 m
ORC.
Offshore Racing Council: l' international organisation which is in charge of IOR classes and offshore regattas.
Orthodromic course
Course along the maximum circle and the shortest one between two points. See also‚ Lloxodromic
Oscar.
Term which represents ‚O‚ in the international phonetic alphabet.
Osmosis
The result of a catalyzation flaw of sealants in fiberglass hulls. Water enters through the gelcoat, it increases the inner volume and creates some bubbles which can delaminate the hull
Outboard
Everything out of the boat. Usually referring to an external engine
Outboard motor
A removable engine mounted on the stern of the boat, or in a motor well.
Overall
Maximum lenght of the boat
Overset
A heeling able to submerge the toerail
Palmetta
Triangular part made up of a rigid wooden or net structure fixed between the bow and the bowsprit
Pantry, Provisions room, Food room
Room or locker for carrying food
Papa.
Term which represents ‚P‚ in the international phonetic alphabet.
Parallel
Any circle parallel to equator
Parallel bar
Instrument used for plotting the course.
Pascal
Unit of measurement equal to 1 Newton/sq.m
Paying off
Sudden violent bearing away caused by wind and rudder loss of control
Peeling
Spinnaker change while a second one is aloft.
Pelorus
Instrument for polar bearings, that is the anular distance between two poinst to determine a position
Periplus
Circumnavigation of an island
Pier, mole, wharf, quay
Structure for mooring or harbour protection.
Pilot bridge
Ship bridge deck
Pilot's boat
Small motorboat used to steer ships into harbours or to drive a pilot aboard.
Pin, split pin, cotter pin
Metal bar inserted in the hole of a screw or the eyelet of a pivot, then bent forked to not escape
Pintle
Part of a rudder brace made up of a pivot sliding into the gudgeon
Pitching
Oscillation around the horizontal axis of a boat
Planking
External covering of a wooden boat
Plotter
Circle gratuated used to measure angles while plotting the course.
Plug
Hole used for emptying bilge water. It is closed through a watertight screw top
Point
Angle equal to 1/32° of 360°
Polar
Arctic 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 bearing
Angular distance between a bot bow and an object
Port side
Left side of a vessel when seen by someone facing the bow
Port/starboard tack
Side which wind comes from
Porthole
Opening in the hull with a watertight closing. Usually round.
Pram.
Service boat.
Preventer sheet
Spare or reinforcing sheet
Pricking, plot the course
Geometric operations on a map to establish and follow the course
Propeller
Terminal part of the propulsion system made up of a series of inclined blades which screw in water and push the boat
Pulley
Transmission element made up of a rotating disk. It is generally used to gear running riggings.
Pulley, sheave
Wheel of a block
Pulpit
Secure railing, generally on the ends of the boat
Pumping
Forbidden rigging in regatta consisting in moving bird wing sails continuously and fast.
Punto cospicuo
Reference point easily recognisable on the coast
Pylon
Poles fixed on the sea bottom to indicate the navigable way in low bottoms; also used for mooring
Quadrant
Part of the compass indicating degrees
Quarter
Partition of a boat( usually fore, stern and midship)
Quarter deck
A sort of balcony at the extreme stern above the deck, used in 19th-century-sailing ships
Quay
Structure which allows boats to moor
Quebec.
Term which represents ‚Q‚ in the international phonetic alphabet.
R.I.N.A.
Italian Naval Register: ministerial body which checks, tests and approves equipments.
Rabbet
Cavity in the keel, stern post or right ahead to fix a first line of plating
Radar
Device to detect objects near a boat
Radar reflector
Metal polyhedral structure which amplifies the radar signal in relation to the surface of the wooden or fiberglass boat it crosses
Range
To roll up a rope so that it can be untied fast
Rat line
Step to climb on the mast
Rating
Coefficient given to a boat according to her technical features in order to compete with other boats falling in another category by compensating journey times
Reach close - verb -
To approach the spinnaker pole to the stay by easing the brace
Reacher.
A particular genoa used in case of close reach.
Redan
Step built in the hull of planing boats to facilitate pressure distribution
Reduce
To reduce the sail surface exposed to wind by lowering the sail partially and fasting the excess part through some strop
Reef
Part of a rope used to fix a sail when it is reduced
Reef point
Rope inserted into the reefs to fix and reduce sails.
Reefing line
Rope used to reduce the surface of a sail exposed to wind
Reefs
Sail sections designed to be reduced
Regatta
Boat race
Relative humidity
Value measured by a hygrometer; it indicates the percentage of steam existing in relation to the total amount which can be contained in the air at ambient temperature ( at 100% we have condensation)
Relieving rope
Mooring rope anchored on the bottom
Rhumb line, loxodromic course
A course which intersecst all meridians at the same angle.
Ride
To hook sails or insert them in the specific mast locations. To insert a rope in more blocks to form a tackle
Ride to a single anchor - verb -
Ray around which the boat can turn when it is moored with a single anchor
Rig out - verb -
To insert a rope ring (bowline) on a bitt
Rigging
Every sheet or hoist combined with its accessories
Right ahead
Terminal part of the bow, also called ‚stempost‚ /
Ring, thimble eye
Metal ring inside a splice whichs protect the rope
Roach
An arc of sail material added to the shape of the sail leech to increase its surface
Roadstead
A sheltered sea anchorage out of a harbour
Roaring Forties
Strong western winds found in the Southern Hemisphere, generally between the latitudes of 40 and 50 degrees
Rolling
Boat rotation around her longitudinal axis
Romeo.
Term which represents ‚R‚ in the international phonetic alphabet.
Rope
General term referring to onboard cordage
Rope ladder
Rope ladder with wooden steps hung on the ship side
Rope-yarn
Part of a rope made up of more rope-yarns
Round, double - verb -
To roud a promontory.
Rubber boat
A small boat made substantially of fabric that can be inflated with air pressure.
Rudder
Equipment for steering a vessel through a bar or a wheel
Rudder angle, steering angle
Rudder blade angle in relation to the boat axis. Its variation changes the course
Rudder blade
Part of the rudder, immersed in water, which gives the boat direction
Rudder heel
Terminal fore part of the bottom where the low rudder gudgeon is inserted
Rudder mole,helm port
Hole in the hull which the rudder shaft comes through
Rudder wheel, steering wheel
Wheel which, combined with tiller rods, allows to manage the rudder rotation
Runaboat
Small and fast motorboat
Rung
Step in the rope ladder; metal spar which keeps shrouds separated
Running on the quarter
Sailing with wind coming from the quarter
Running rigging
Group of ropes used to regulate
Sacchetto
Weight provided with a small cable, thrown to land in order to allow the passage of a bigger cable
Sacrifical anode
Metal part, usually made of zinc, fixed to the hull or some other metal parts to prevent galvanic streams from causing corrosion
Safe waters signal
It is surrounded by navigable waters bu it doesn't indicate a danger. It is used, for example, to indicate a channel
Safety notes
Inspections which verify that the boat, its safety equipments, engines, electric systems, etc.. meet the technical requirements for marine safety
Sail
Fabric designed and shaped to catch the wind and used to propel a vessel.
Sail cloth
Fabric part of a sail
Sail tack
Vertex of a sail triangle fixed to the boat or a spinnaker pole
sail tack, sheet track
Track equipped with a carriage to change sheet position easily and fast
Sail up - verb -
To sail towards a point located windward (or underset)
Sailcloth
Raw 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 class
Group of sailing boats sharing the same design features, recognised by the the International Sailing Federation (ISAF)
Sailing directions
A book with useful information about navigation, coast and harbours
Sailing point, sailing trim
Direction of the bow in relation to wind direction
Schooner
Boat 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 cable
The length of the anchor rope or chain
Scull - verb -
To row with a single oar
Scupper
The openings in the bulwarks that allow drainage over the side
Sea anchor, floating anchor
An anchor made up of a cone which, drug in the water, slows boat motion down
Sea chest, sea water intake
Valve communicating with outside from which water can be sucked or drained
Seamark
Buoy or general reference point used to identify rocks or shallows or to indicate navigable canals or bearings.
Seizing, reefing knot
Knot used to join two ropes
Set sail
To 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
Sextant
Optical instrument which determines latitude through the measurement of the elevation of a celestial body above the horizon
Shackie
To 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
Shackle
U-shaped iron element with a removable pin. It is used to join chain ends or to fix sails to eye bolts thorugh cringles
Shank
Main element of the anchor
Sheepshank
A knot used to shorten a rope.
Sheer
The curved fore and aft line formed by the uppermost plank of a boat.
Sheet
Rope used to set sails
Shelter
A zone protected from wind and waves
Shipowner
The owner of a vessel
Shipping lane
Error which can contain the navigation error
Shipyard
Where ships are built or repaired
Shoal, shallow water
An area where the bottom shape rises near the surface
Shockcord tie
Elastic rope made up of a main cable and several braces, used to clew the mainsail down fast.
Shroud
Cable, generally made of steel, on the sides of the mast to support and reinforce it
Shrouds
Standing riggings: shrouds, backstays and forestays
Side
Side of the boat
Sierra.
Term which represents ‚S‚ in the international phonetic alphabet.
Sight - verb -
To see or recognise an object
Signal buoy
Buoy or beacon fixed to the anchor ring through a specific rope to indicate the anchor position and recover it if stucked
Signaling flag
If 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
Sirocco
Southeast wind
Skeg
Support located in front of the rudder to protect and support it
Skipper
Master of a boat
Skylight
Opening in the deck
Skysail
Triangular sail located between two masts
Slack
A not taut rope
Slide
Hook mounted on hail eadropess to allow the junction with stays
Slip
Difference 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
Slipway
Inclined plan finishing in water used to launch small boats
Sloop
A sailing vessel carrying a single mast and a single fore sail
Snatch-block
A 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
Sonar
Intrument to measure the depth or distance of an object. See also Depth meter
Sorrentine felucca
Thin boat with no decks
South wind
Wind blowing from South
South-west wind
Wind blowing from South-West
span
System of cables to distribute traction, generally used for awnings.See also LazyJack
Spar
Shaft located horinzontally to the mast where Latin sails are inserted
Spare materials
Spare parts used to replace broken equipments
Spare parts
Spare parts of any boat equipment
Special signals
They don't help navigation but they indicate a particular area or situation, whose nature can be determined by referring to maps or other documents.
Spectra
Commercial 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.
Spinnaker
Very thin nylon sail, often coloured, used to sail downwind or a beam wind
Spinnaker pole
A spar used to maintain a sail away from the bow
Spitfire
Storm jib
splice
To join the ends of two lines, or make a loop, by weaving the untwisted lays into the bight.
Spring
Squaresail above the fore sail
Springline
A long dockline which is run from the bow aft to the dock, or from the stern forward to the dock.
Spritsail
Fore 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
Violent short gust
Squall, gale
Waves high enough, with strong wind. Degree 8 in Beaufort scale, equal to over 40 knots
Squaresail
Trapezoidal sail fixed on the upper side of yards, excellent for running free but not good for sailing close to wind
SSB
Receiver/transmitter for long-ray communications, acronym of ‚single side band‚
Stability
The relative tendancy of a ship to remain upright in the face of wind and waves.
Stall
When sails or rudder loose their lift, like plane wings
Stanchion
A vertical metal post mounted at the edge of the deck to which a rail or cables are attached as a safety measure.
Standing part
Standing terminal part of a cable, fixed on a ring. The ring or spar which the cable is fixed on.
Standing rigging
Metal cables or standing ropes supporting the masts
Star
One-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 board
Right side of the boat
Starboard
The right side of a vessel when seen by someone facing the bow
Starcut
A particular spinnaker with star-shaped panels; today it is replaced by the gennaker
Stay
Steel cable between tanchions and pulpits which forms a protection handrail
Staysail
Triangular fore sail used together with gennaker
Steer - verb -
To direct the course of a vessel
Steerage
Change of course
Stempost
A vertical post, at the front of the keel, that forms the main part of the bow
Step, mast-step
Mast basis seat
Stern
Rear part of a boat
Stern gear, stern tube
Tube fixed to the hull or a propeller where a shaft passes through
Stern post
Terminal part of the stern
Stern quarter
Lateral part of the boat on the sides of the stern.
Sticcare
To haul up on the wind and stop only when sails start to flap
Stick
An extension of rudder
Stop
To hook a rope or a chain so that it keeps in tension while it is fixed in a permanent way
Stopper
Hook or lever to block the anchor or the chain after dropping the anchor.
Stopper, backstay
Guy used to fix a rope or a chain
Store
Supplies stocked on board for use as needed during a voyage, food included
Storm
Sudden violent weather event with rain and lightings
Strale
One-design craft with centreboard designed by Ettore Santarelli; it is a two-seater with mainsail jib and spinnaker( 13.50 x 1.70 m)
Strand
To get struck with the keel on the bottom, for example in the rocks.
Stream
Water motion generated by wind, tides or bottoms.
Stringer
Reinforcement of the junction between hull and deck
Strong squall
Waves with crests which start to roll; thicker and thicker foam. Degree 9 in Beaufort Scale
Strop, lizard
Part of a rope linked to a ring through a knot or a splice to fix an object
Stud, cross bar
Mooring rope perpendicular to the boat, used together with springline
Stuffing box
Cilynder where rudder shaft is located
Super buoy
Danger 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
Surfer
The person who steers a wind- surf.
Swab, mop
Broom, besom to wash and dry decks
Swinging
Method to calculate compass mistakes due to magnetic deviations. The result is reported on a table which will be used to plot the course
Tack
Rigging used on topmast ships to keep yards in position. It doesn't exist on triangular sails, it can be identified with the spinnaker arm
Tack - verb -
To fix the tack angle
Taffrail
Terminal part sternward the deck bridge; western white light
Tagging
Thinning of the final end of the mast in order to facilitate flexibility and decrease weight
Tal-boy
High narrow fore stay sail to raise under the spinnaker
Tallboy
Fore sail used windward the spinnaker
Tango.
Term which represents ‚T‚ in the international phonetic alphabet.
Tartaruga
Spinnaker bag
Tek.
The light but resistant wood of the teak, a tree of the verbena family. It is generally used in the construction of deck plan and interiors.
Tender
Small service boat
Terrazzano
A layman, an inexperienced person
Territorial waters
Area of the sea immediately adjacent to the shores of a state and subject to the territorial jurisdiction of that state. It generally extends about 12 miles starting from the coastal line.
Tide
The rise and fall of ocean waters caused by the gravitational effect of sun and moon
Tide slack
Phase between two tide flows
Tier
To approach to a pier or another boat laterally
Tiller
A group of mechanisms which transmit motion to the rudder
Tiller bar, helmstock
Pole of medium length used to steer the rudder
To be short stay
When the anchor is exactly under the boat
To haul up on the wind
To reduce the angular distance between the bow and the point where wind comes from
Tonnage
The volume of all interior spaces in a boat
Top
Platform on the masts used to allow a bette view. In old sailing boats, it was also used for sail riggings
Top mark
Metal structure fixed to a buoy to indicate a danger or a position
Top rope
Circuit of the staysail halyard
Topgallant sail
Squaresail fixed to the fore topgallant yard
Topping lift, lift
Rope used to support boom and general shafts when sails are not raised
Topside
The outside face of the hull between the water and the deck.
Tow rope
Big rope generally used for anchorage
Towing
To put a boat ashore
Traccia.
Line which joins two waypoints.
Transom
Central part of the stern
Transom, upper stern
Terminal part of a vessel
Travel lift
Mobile gantry crane.
Traveler, tackle
System of ropes and blocks used to expand strain
Trawler
Fishing boat generally used in Northern Seas for ocean fishing
Trident
Craft with chine hull and centreboard conceived for sailing training; it is provided with a manisail and a jib and it can host up to 4 people.
Trim
Electric-hydraulic system used to regulate the triming mounted on some outboard motors (generally the most powerful ones).
Trimaran
Vessel with three hulls
Trimmer
Member of the crew who regulates sails
Trip the anchor - verb -
To heave anchor
Troub set
Series of polar bearings to determine the ship's position
True course
Sailing direction determined by the angle between the vessel keel and true geographic north.
Turn - verb -
The change course. In sailing boats, it is done by passing with the bow through the wind direction.
Turnbuckle
Equipment used to puts tension on stadings rigging
Turnbuckle, rigging screw
Instrument used to stretch standing riggings
Turning area
Circle whose ray is equal to the lenght of the scope within which a moored boat can rotate pushed by wind
Twist
The difference of the angle of a sail to the wind
Ucina
Italian union gathering the most important shipbuilders and naval operators.
Unbend - verb -
To remove sails
Unbend - verb -
To divide two rope/chain ends linked by a shackle or a false link
Uncertainty triangle
Triangle formed by the intersection of three bearings. It includes the area where the vessel is
Uniform.
Term which represents ‚U‚ in the international phonetic alphabet.
Unloading barge
To lighten the load of a ship in order to reduce its draught; generally used to allow a ship to enter harbours where sea bottom is low
Unrig, rig down - verb -
To lower in the deck the uppest part of masts, common in ships where masts were made up of several parts
UTC
Acronym which indicates the universal reference time.
V-drive
A transmission mounted forward of the engine which reverses the direction of the shaft so that it can exit aft
Vang
Tackle leading downward from a bridle on the boom
Vaurien
Sailing two-seater boat with chine hull and dagger board, designed by Jean Jacques Herbulot in 1951.
Veer/ haul aft - verb -
When wind rotates and the sailing point becomes more beared up while maintaining the same course
Ventilator
An air intake on deck which brings fresh air into interiors
Venturi.
Giovan Battista, physicist(1746-1822). He discovered that the constriction of a tube section where a fluid is flowing provokes an increase in flowing speed and a decrease in pressure. The Venturi effect is used on sailing boats by creating a hole between the mainsail and the genoa; when air flowing speed increases, the mainsail traction on the leeward zone increases.
VHF
Very High Frequency: Radio frequencies between 30 and 300 megahertz. Generally used to indicate on-board radios operating in that band.
Victor.
Term which represents ‚V‚ in the international phonetic alphabet.
Violent storm
Huge waves which might hide even big ships. The sea is completely choppy. Wind nebulizes foam. Degree 11 of Beaufort Scale.
Visibility sector
Visibility arch of a lighthouse or a light
Vomit - verb -
To vomit
Von Karman's vortex
Turbulences caused by wind which provoke, in their turn, strong wind and obscillations.
Ward-room
The living quarter and mess for crew members
Warnings
Written or radio warning with useful information
Warp - verb -
To move a boat by pulling cables
Watercraft
General term to define any kind of boat or structure suitable to sail
Waterline, boattop
Part which divides the immersed part from that one above the boat surface
Watertight
Having the strength and ability to keep out water
Wave height
Height of the wave taken between the crest and the cavity of two following waves
Waypoint
Reference point in the physical space used for any type of navigation.
Weer - verb -
Action of the whinch or windlass to stretch a rope or cable tight.
Wellroom
Central part of the bilge. On its bottom there is a hole used for emptying water.
West
Cardinal point, indicated by a W. It is equal to 270 degrees in wind rose.
West wid
West; wind blowing from West
Wharf, pier
Floating structure for boat mooring
Whiskey.
Term which represents‚W‚ in the international phonetic alphabet..
White sails
To sail by using only the mainsail and genoa, without gennaker, spinnaker or drifter, usually coloured.
Williamson rigging
Rigging through which a vessel is brought back to the course just done. It is generally used to rescue a man or an object
Winch
Vertical windlass usually operated manually, used to stretch running riggings
wind pilot
A mechanic instrument used to adjust the course in case of little accidental variations, only with the help of wind.It is an authomatic pilot operated by wind. It doesn't use energy, which is a very important factor in long navigations.
Wind rose
A table which represents the wind origin and direction
Windex
System to indicate wind direction, made up of an arrow which rotates when wind changes, generally located on the mast top.
Windlass
Wharp to hoist anchors
Windsurf.
Common term referring to a sailing board; it indicates a flat hull provided with a centre board and a fore fin. It is steered by a standing surfer through the movement of his weight and of the sailing centre
Windward
Side of the boat which wind comes from
Wishbone.
The double boom used to steer a wind surf; it is also a double rowlock used on some big ketches.
Woolding
Solid wipping
X-Ray.
Term which represents ‚X‚ in the international phonetic alphabet.
Yacht
English word generally referring to pleasure boats
Yachting
The act of engaging in sailing for pleasure.
Yachtsman
A person devoted to yachting
Yankee
Jib or counter-jib with a very high clew
Yankee.
Term which represents ‚Y‚ in the international phonetic alphabet.
Yard
Shaft perpendicular to the mast which supports squaresails
Yard arm
End of the boom or yards
Yaw
The turning of a boat off course caused by seas arriving at an angle.
Yaw, broach - verb -
Sudden violent luffing caused by wind and the rudder loss of control
yaw, come alongside
To swing off course. To approach to another boat or to a dock
Yawl
Boat with two masts and the mizzen one abaft the rudder axis
Yoke line, steering chain
Part of the rudder wheel transmission system
Zenit
The point on the celestial sphere vertically above a given position or observer
Zulu.
Term which represents ‚Z‚ in the international phonetic alphabet.


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