| Aback (backwind) |
The sail filling on wrong side in the case of square rigger may cause the ship to back up |
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| Abaft |
Towards the stern or rear of the vessel |
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| Abeam |
At right angles to the keel of the boat but not on the boat |
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| Able bodied seamen |
A member of the deck crew who is able to perform all the duties of an experienced seamen |
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| Aboard |
On or within the boat |
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| About |
On the other tack |
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| Above Deck |
On the deck |
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| Abrest |
Along side or at right to |
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| ABS American Bureau of Shipping |
A US based private classification or standards setting society for merchant ships and other marine systems |
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| Abyss |
That volume of ocean lying below 300 fathoms from surface |
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| Admeasure |
Formal measurement of a boat for documentation |
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| Admiralty Law |
The "law of the sea" |
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| Adrift |
Floating free with the currents and tide not under control A rope may be adrift if comes out place |
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| Aft |
At near or towards the stern |
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| After bow spring line |
A mooring line fixed to the bow of the boat and leading aft where it is attached to the dock This prevents the boat from moving forward in its berth Its opposite the forward quarter spring line is used to keep the boat from moving aft in its berth |
| Against the Sun |
Anticlockwise circular motion Lefthanded ropes are coiled against the sun |
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| Aground |
Touching or fast to the bottom |
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| Ahead |
In a forward direction |
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| Ahoy |
Seaman's call to attract attention |
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| Aid to navigation |
Any fixed object that a navigator may use to find his position such as permanent land or sea markers buoys radiobeacons and lighthouses |
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| Alee |
Away from the direction of the wind. Opposite of windward. |
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| Aloft |
Up above the deck up the mast or in the rigging |
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| Alongside |
Close beside a ship wharf or jetty |
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| Altar |
Step in a dry dock |
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| Amas |
The outboard hulls of a trimaran |
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| America's Cup |
The America’s Cup dating from 1851 is the oldest trophy in is considered yacht racing’s Holy Grail |
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| Amidships |
In the middle of the ship |
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| Anchor |
A hook which digs in to the bottom to keep the ship from drifting 2) The act of using an anchor |
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| Anchor Ball |
A black ball visible in all direction display in the forward part of a vessel at anchor |
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| Anchor bend |
A type of knot used to fasten an anchor to its line |
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| Anchor Chain |
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 |
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| Anchor Ice |
Ice of any form that is aground in the sea |
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| Anchor Light |
A white light visible in all direction display in the forward part of a vessel at anchor |
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| Anchor Locker |
Storage space used for the anchor rode and anchor |
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| Anchor Watch |
A member or members of the crew that keep watch and check the drift of ship |
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| Anchor windlass |
A windlass used to assist when raising the anchor |
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| Anchorage |
A sheltered place or area where a boat can anchor |
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| Anemometer |
A device that measures wind velocity |
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| Antitrip Chine |
A flared out aft section of the side/bottom of the boat The purpose is to prevent the hard chine of the boat catching a wake or small wave on a sharp turn |
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| Apeak |
Said of anchor when cable is taut and vertical |
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| Apparent Wind |
The direction of the wind as is relative to the speed and direction of the boat |
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| Aspect Ratio |
The relationship between the height of a sail and its breadth ie A sail with a height of 30' and a breadth of 20' has an aspect ratio of 32 A tall and narrow sail is said to have a high Aspect ratio |
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| Astern |
Behind the boat |
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| Athwart |
Across Transversely |
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| Athwartships |
At right angles to the centerline of the boat; rowboat seats are generally athwartships |
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| Atrip |
Said of anchor immediately it is broken out of the ground |
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| Auger |
A carpenter's tool boat builders use for boring holes in wood |
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| Auxiliary |
A second method of propelling a vessel On a sailboat this could be a engine |
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| Avast |
The command to stop or cease in any operation |
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| Awash |
Water washing over |
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| Aweigh |
To raise an anchor off the bottom |