Back an anchor - verb -To reinforce the mooring by putting two anchors in sequence
Back sailSail which pushes in an opposite direction to motion, used to brake or keep the boat stationary
Back waterMarine waves in a harbour
backed anchorAn anchor removed from its seat and ready to be dropped in the water
BackstayStanding rigging whichs support the astern mast
BailTo clear water out of a boat
Bail - verb -To empty the water entered aboard through a bailer
BailerA bucket or dipper used for removing bilgewater from a boat.
BallastHeavy weight which adjusts the draft of a ship and improve stability
Bandiera a rivaFlag on the upper part of masts
BarbotinElement of the winch with a particular shape which allows to recover chains
BarnaclesMarine conic crostaceans which adhere to hulls, very difficult to remove.
BarogramDiagram of the atmosperic pressure trend written by the pen of a barograph on a paper wrapped by a cylinder
BarographInstrument used to measure atmosperic pressure. Similar to barometer but providing an immediate measurement
BarycentreCentre of gravity
BaseThe lowest side of a sail, between clat and clew point
BasinA pool on sea level, where bottom can be repaired
Basin, dockEquipped and sheltered area where ships can stopa
BathymetricOn naval maps, it is the line which joins points of equal depth
BathyscopeA funnel with transparent bottom used to observe sea bottom
BattenRigid profile inserted into sail leech to contribute to their shape
Batten pocketBatten compartment
BeamStructural 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
BearingAngular distance between magnetic North and the observed object
Bearing awayTo increase the angle in relation to the direction where apparent wind comes from
Bearing compassCompass equipped with azimut devices
Beaufort FrancisEnglish admiral who lived in the 19th century. He invented the homonymous scale used to measure wind
Beaufort ScaleA 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>
Belay pinInstrument used for splicing, made up of a wedge point which help strands to open
Belaying-pin rackWooden or steel ring on the basis of the mast, where belay pins are fixed in order to block running riggings.
BellIn the past, it was used to mark time; today, it is used to indicate a danger singnal or position in case of low visibility.
Bermudian sailName given to the rigs of a Bermudian sail
BildgeThe lowest part of a hull
Bilge keelsExtensible mobile wings mounted on the sides of the bottom to reduce roll
Bilge pumpA hydraulic pump to bail out the water entered in the hull.
BillPoint of an anchor arm
BinnacleStructure which supports the magnetic compass. It usually contains compensation magnets
BisciaHole in the floors or in bilge to empty water from bilge
BittTo fix a rope to a bitt
BlockKeel supports in a dry dock
Block coefficientRatio 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
BlooperFore sail to be hoisted leeward the spinnaker with light winds
BoardTo approach to another boat
Board - verb -To assault a ship after boarding it.
BoardingTo direct the boat to approach another one
BoatTerm used for all crafts with a lenght between 10 and 24 metres, including sailing and motor boats.
Boat builderA person specialised in wooden boat construction
Boat gripeCable or rope, usually provided with turnbuckle to fix objects
Boat hookWooden pole fitted with a hook or knob at one end, used for fending off or picking up lines at a dock or mooring/
Boat shedSlipway where boats are placed to be repaired
BoatswainThe leading seaman in charge of supervising crewmembers when performing work on deck
Bolt ropeReinforcement sewn on the sail end to increase resistence
BoomWooden 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 cleaningTo remove deposits from the hull
Bottom, hullImmersed part of the hull.
BowThe forward part of a ship
Bow anchorAn anchor placed in order to be ready to use
Bow waves, bonesFrothy waves raised by the boat
Bow-thrusterAn auxiliary motor and propeller mounted athwartships at the bow, and employed to maneuver the ship sideways.
BowlineVery popular knot forming a ring
BowmanMember of the crew in charge of bow riggings
BowspritWooden 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
BraceTo move the spinnaker pole from the forestay
Brace - verb -To haul the manoeuvring rope by opening a yard or the spinnaker pole
BrailA rope fixed to sail sides to fold them
BravoTerm which represents ‚B‚ in the international phonetic alphabet (ICAO)
Break down, trip - verb -To set sail by detaching the anchor from the bottom
BreakwaterRaised borders used to prevent water from entering the cockpit
BreechingMooring cable located on the bow or the stern extended along the hull to fix to a quay
BreezeCoastal wind caused by a difference in temperature between land and sea.
Bridge deckPlace which a ship is steered from
Bridle, flapEnd of anchor arms
BucketContainer suitable for liquids
BulbSwelling 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
BulinchiaLever with eccentric hook to close portholes,skylights or hatches
BulkheadVertical structure which separates two zones in the cabin. Sometimes, it can be watertight in order to increase safety in case of collision
BumpkinSmall pole used to let sheet hang out outboard by increasings their efficiency and preventing them from scarping on shrouds
BumpsAdditional bumps used to change the sizes of the construction parameters of a hull
BuoyFloating element anchored on the sea bottom for mooring or signals
Buoy ropeRope fixed to the anchor ring