It is always helpful as crew to be able to speak more than one language, but in reality, all yacht crew are bilingual without even knowing it. “Yacht speak” might not the official term but it is a whole different language you need to learn before stepping onto a boat. If you’re new to the industry, bookmark this handy guide of 100 words you need to know...
Abeam
At a right angle to the center of a vessel’s length
Aft
Towards the rear of the vessel
Ahead
In front of a boat or moving in a forward direction
AIS (Automatic Identification System)
A tracking system required on vessels of more than 300GT
Amidships
The central portion of a vessel
Anti-fouling
A special paint applied to the hull to prevent marine growth
APA (Advanced Provisioning Allowance)
An Advanced Provisioning Allowance is an additional charter fee paid in advance to cover the cost of provisions such as fuel, food and drink, and marina fees. The APA is usually 30% of the charter fee.
Apparent Wind
The direction and speed of the wind felt by the crew as a sum of true wind and the motion of the vessel
Astern
Towards the stern or moving in reverse
Athwartships
Perpendicular to the yacht’s centerline
Aweigh
An anchor that is off the bottom
Backstay
On a sailing yacht, a wire that supports the mast, running from the head of the mast to a point on the stern
Ballast
Weight added to a vessel to increase stability
Batten Down
To secure hatches and loose objects, i.e., ”batten down the hatches“
Beam
The width of a vessel measured at its widest point
Bear Away
To steer a boat away from the wind
Bearing
The direction to an object or location from your current position, measured in degrees
Beating
Sailing upwind
Berth
The vessel’s allotted space in a marina, also used as a seafarers’ term for a bed
Bilge
This bilge is the deepest part of the vessel’s hull often used for storage
Bimini
A canvas canopy supported by a frame that offers shelter over a cockpit or lounge area of a boat
Boom
The boom sits perpendicular to the mast towards the bottom and runs along the foot of the sail
Bow Line
A rope that is tied onto the front of a boat (the bow) and stops the vessel from moving sideways when moored
Bow
The front of a boat
Bowsprit
A spar protruding forward from a ship’s bow to which the forestays are fastened
Bridge
From which the captain steers the boat
Broach
To turn sideways to the wind
Bulkhead
An upright wall or partition within the hull of a ship
Capstan
A winch used to wind in an anchor and tighten lines
Cardinal Marks
Buoys indicating the direction of safe water with reference to the cardinal points
Cast off
To let go of a line
Chine
The change in angle where the sides of the hull meet the bottom of the hull
Cleat
A t-shaped piece of metal on a boat to which lines are attached
Coaming
A raised surface on deck designed to prevent the entry of water
Cockpit
The outdoor area of a sailing yacht where guests sit and eat, and from where the captain may steer and control the boat
Companionway
A set of steps that lead from a ship’s deck down to a cabin or lower deck
Deadrise
The amount of angle that forms between the boat bottom and a horizontal plane on either side of the center keel
Displacement
The weight of water displaced by a hull, or a type of hull that displaces water as opposed to ’planing’
Draft
The depth of a vessel beneath the waterline
ENG1
MCA-approved medical certificate required for all crew on commercial superyachts.
Ensign
The principal flag or flown by a vessel to indicate its nationality
Fairlead
A fitting through which anchor or mooring lines are led
Fender
An air-filled cushion placed between two boats or between a boat and a pontoon to prevent damage
Fluke
The palm of an anchor
Flybridge
An open deck located above the bridge that features a secondary helm station
Foredeck
The forward part of the deck of a ship, usually level with the main deck
Forepeak
A compartment or cabin in the angle of the bow.
Freeboard
The height of a ship's hull above the waterline
Galley
The kitchen on board a boat
Gangway
The area of a ship’s side where people board and disembark
Gunwhale
The upper edge of a boat’s sides
Gybe
To change course with the wind astern so that the stern of the vessel goes through the wind and the boom passes from one side to the other
Halyard
A line used to raise the mainsail
Hatch
An opening, usually rectangular, in a vessel providing access into the next compartment.
Head
A bathroom
Head Up
To steer closer to the wind
Heading
The direction in which a vessel is pointed at any given moment
Headway
The forward motion of a vessel
Heel
The canting of a vessel to one side
Helm
The steering system
Hull
The body of the vessel
IMO (International Maritime Organisation)
The United Nations agency responsible for the safety and security of shipping
Jib
Foresail
Keel
A structural framework that runs longitudinally along the centreline of a hull, which on sailing yachts is extended downwards to increase stability
Knot
A measure of speed equal to one nautical mile
Lazarette
A storage space in a boat’s stern area
Leeward
The side sheltered from the wind
Line
A length of rope that serves a specific purpose
Mainsail
The primary sail on a yacht set behind the mainmast
Make Fast
To secure a line
MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency)
Implements the UK government’s maritime safety policy in the UK to prevent the loss of life on the coast and at sea
Midships
Equidistant from bow to stern (see Amidships)
Mizzen
A sail flown from the mizzenmast (a third mast or the mast immediately behind the mainmast)
Nautical Mile
A unit used in measuring distances at sea, equal to 1,852 meters
Passarelle
A gangplank or platform used to board or exit a large yacht
Port
The left side of the boat
Port Bow
The front left side of a boat
Port Quarter
The rear left side of a boat
Reach
Sailing with the wind on the beam
Rigging
Lines that hold the masts
Rudder
An underwater blade at the stern of a boat used for steering
Shroud
Wires that support the mast
Spring Line
A line led diagonally from the bow or stern of a ship to a point on the dock to prevent the vessel from sliding forward or backward
Stabilizers
A design feature of a yacht that sits below the waterline intended to reduce or combat its tendency to roll in seas.
Starboard
The right side of the boat
Starboard Bow
The front right of a boat
Starboard Quarter
The rear right of a boat
Stern
The rear end of a boat
Stern Line
Stern lines prevent the stern of a boat from moving side to side or, when coming into a berth, keeps the boat from drifting away from the dock
Stow
The nautical term for putting items away
Superstructure
The part of the ship built above the hull
Tack
To change the direction of a sailing vessel by turning the bow of the boat through the wind
Tender
A smaller vessel used to ferry guests to shore or for water-based activities
Transit
Two fixed objects lined up by an observer
Transom
The flat surface forming the stern of the boat
Trim
To adjust the angle of the sails
True Wind
The direction and speed of the wind felt when stationary
Underway
When a boat is moving, either by motor or wind
Warp
A line used for anchoring or mooring
Windward
The side closest to the wind (opposite of Leeward)