|
AAA ALPHA
AAA
|
| ABACK |
Condition of sail when the
wind pressure is on the leeward or forward side, with sails backed or trimmed
to windward |
| ABAFT |
Behind or further towards
the stern, behind the boat |
| ABAFT THE BEAM |
Any direction between the
beam and the stern, more behind a vessel than in front of it. Bearing more
than 90 degrees on either side from dead ahead |
| ABEAM |
The direction between the
beam and the stern, at right angles to the length of the
boat |
| ABOARD |
On or in or into a boat |
| ABOUT SHIP |
The order to tack ship |
| ABREAST |
Opposite or right angles to |
| ADRIFT |
Not being fast to a stationary
mooring |
| ADMEASURE |
regulation
measurement of a vessel for documentation |
| ADMIRALTY
LAW |
The Law of the
Seas, often debated by Sea Lawyers |
| AFT |
Towards the stern-back of
the boat from amidship |
| AGROUND |
A
vessel that is resting on the bottom or the rocks is said to be
"aground" |
| AID
TO NAVIGATION |
used
to establish position, a fixed mark such as a buoy, landmark, radio beacon,
lighthouse, gps satellite, etc. |
| ALEE |
Away from the direction of
the wind, referring to the helm or the tiller |
| ALOFT |
Above the deck, overhead in
the rigging |
| AMA |
outboard hull
of a trimaran |
| ANCHOR |
1) the act of
anchoring
2) a weighted object designed to hold a boat in position that is lowered
into the water, usually "catching" on the bottom |
| ANCHORAGE |
A suitable place for anchoring |
| ANCHOR |
A chain attached to the anchor. The chain acts partially as a weight to keep the anchor lying next to the ground so that it can dig in
better and better absorb changes in the boat's position due to waves.
Chain holds up better than line when lying on rocks. |
| ANCHOR
BEND |
A
knot used to fasten the anchor to the anchor line |
| ANCHOR
LIGHT |
A white light, usually on the masthead, visible from all directions, used when
anchored |
| ANCHOR
LOCKER |
A
storage area, usually in the bow, to store the anchor, rode and line |
| ANCHOR
ROLLER |
Also called bow roller. A fitting with a small wheel that allows the
anchor and chain to roll over when dropping or raising the anchor.
Some anchor rollers also have a provision to store the
anchor |
| ANCHOR
WINDLASS |
A windlass used to assist when raising the
anchor, can be manual or electric |
| ANEMOMETER |
An
instrument used to measure wind velocity |
| ASTERN |
Backwards, somewhere behind,
towards the stern |
| ATHWART OR ATHWARTSHIPS |
At right
angles to the centerline |
| AUTOPILOT |
A device used to steer a boat automatically, usually electrical, hydraulic or mechanical in nature. A similar mechanism called a self-steering gear may also be used on a sailing
vessel |
| AUXILIARY |
A yacht propelled by both
sail and power or a support group, i.e., Coast Guard Auxiliary |
| AVAST |
A nautical command to stop or cease.
Date: 1681, perhaps from Dutch "houd vast" hold fast |
| AWEIGH |
To
raise the anchor |
