Words You Need to Know as a Yacht Crew

Greece

Words You Need to Know as a Yacht Crew

It is always a great advantage if a yacht crew member can speak more than one language, but in reality, everyone who works as a crew on a yacht is bilingual, without even knowing it. “Yacht speak” even though it’s the unofficial term, it is a completely different language that you need to learn before you step your foot on board. If you’re interested in finding a job in a yachting industry, save this guide for later. I promise it might come handy one day.

Abeam

On a line at right angle to the center of a ship’s length.

Aft

At, near, or towards the stern of a ship

Ahead

In front of a vessel or moving in a forward direction

AIS (Automatic Identification System)

An automatic tracking system that’s required on vessels of more than 300GT

Amidships

Middle of a ship, either longitudinally or laterally.

Anti-fouling

A special paint applied to the hull of a vessel to control or prevent the attachment of unwanted organisms.

APA (Advanced Provisioning Allowance)

Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA) is an advance payment required to be made to fund estimated boarding costs of the charter price, used to cover the costs of provisions such as fuel, food and drink, and marina fees. The amount is usually 30% of the charter fee.

Apparent Wind

The direction and speed of the wind experienced by the crew as a sum of true wind and the motion of the vessel.

Astern

Behind or towards the rear of a ship.

Athwartships

Across the ship from side to side.

Aweigh

Raised anchor, just clear of the seabed.

Ballast

Weight that is used to provide stability to a vessel

Batten Down

To prepare for possible trouble or difficulty (bad weather) ie: to tie, close, or cover (something) in order to prevent it from moving or becoming damaged. “Everything on the ship’s deck was battened down.”

Beam

The width of a ship at its widest point

Bear Away

To change the course away from the wind.

Bearing

The direction to an object or location from your current position, measured in degrees.

Beating

Sailing upwind.

Berth

Designated location in a port or harbour used for mooring vessels when they are not at sea, also a fixed bunk on a ship (bed).

Bilge

Part of the hull that would rest on the ground if the vessel were unsupported by water, often used for storage.

Bimini

An open-front canvas top for the cockpit or lounge area of a boat, usually supported by a metal frame.

Boom

A long pole attached to the bottom of a boat’s sail, that is used for changing the direction of the sail.

Bow Line

A rope tight to the bow that stops the vessel from moving side to side, also a simple knot used to form a fixed loop at the end of a rope.

Bow

The forward part of a vessel.

Bowsprit

The bowsprit of a sailing vessel is a spar extending forward from the vessel’s prow. It is typically held down by a bobstay that counteracts the forces from the forestays.

Bridge

A room or a platform of a ship, from which the captain steers the boat

Broach

An abrupt, involuntary change in a vessel’s course, turning sideways to the wind.

Bulkhead

An upright wall within the hull of a ship.

Capstan

A rotating machine (winch) for moving or raising heavy weights ie: to wind an anchor or tighten lines.

Cardinal Marks

A sea mark (buoy or other floating or fixed structure) indicating the position of a hazard and the direction of safe water.

Cast off

To unfasten or untie a boat or a line.

Chine

Sharp change in angle in the cross section of a hull.

Cleat

A T-shaped piece of metal or wood on a boat or ship, to which ropes are attached.

Coaming

A raised border around the cockpit or a hatch of a yacht to keep out water.

Cockpit

The location of controls of a vessel.

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 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 vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of the hull (keel).

ENG1

MCA-approved medical certificate required for all crew on commercial superyachts.

Ensign

A flag that is flown (by a ship) as the symbol of nationality.

Fairlead

A fitting to guide a line, rope or cable around an object, out of the way or to stop it from moving laterally.

Fender

An air-filled cushion used to absorb the kinetic energy of a boat or vessel berthing against a jetty, quay wall or other vessel.

Fluke

A triangular blade at the end of an anchor, designed to catch in the ground.

Flybridge

An open area located on top of a vessel that provides unobstructed views of the fore, aft, and the sides of a boat.

Foredeck

A deck at the forward part of a ship.

Forepeak

A compartment or cabin in the angle of the bow.

Freeboard

A distance between the waterline and the main deck of a ship.

Galley

The kitchen on board a boat

Gangway

A narrow passages used to board or disembark ships.

Gunwale

An upper edge or planking of the side of a boat or ship.

Gybe

To change course by swinging the sail across a following wind.

Halyard

A line (rope) that is used to hoist a ladder, sail , flag or yard.

Hatch

An opening, usually rectangular, in a vessel providing access into the next compartment.

Head

A ship’s toilet.

Head Up

To steer a vessel towards the wind.

Heading

A direction or bearing in which a vessel is pointed at any given moment.

Headway

A motion of a vessel in a forward direction.

Heel

The tilting of a vessel to one side.

Helm

The steering gear of a ship, especially the tiller or wheel.

Hull

The body of the ship.

IMO (International Maritime Organisation)

It is a specialised agency of the United Nations, responsible for the safety and security of shipping

Jib

A triangular sail that sets ahead of the foremast of a sailing vessel.

Keel

The bottom-most longitudinal structural element on a vessel. On some sailboats, it may have a hydrodynamic and counterbalancing purpose, as well.

Knot

A unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour.

Lazarette

The rear part of a ship’s hold, used for storage.

Leeward

The side sheltered from the wind (opposite of windward).

Line

A length of rope that serves a specific purpose.

Mainsail

A sail rigged on the main mast of a sailing vessel.

Make Fast

To make secure; to fasten firmly, as a vessel, a rope, or a door.

MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency)

An executive agency of the UK, working to prevent the loss of lives at sea and is responsible, for implementing British and international maritime law and safety policy.

Midships

In the middle of a ship, either longitudinally or laterally (see Amidships).

Mizzen

A sail on the mizzenmast of a ship, in particular the lowest sail on the mizzenmast of a square-rigged sailing ship.

Nautical Mile

A unit used in measuring distances at sea, equal to 1,852 meters.

Passerelle

A gangplank or platform used to board or leave a large yacht.

Port

The left side of the vessel.

Port Bow

The front left side of the vessel.

Port Quarter

The rear left side of the vessel.

Reach

Sailing when the wind is coming from the side of the sailing craft.

Rigging

System of ropes, cables and chains, which support a sailing ship or sail boat’s masts.

Rudder

A primary control surface used to steer a ship

Shroud

Pieces of standing rigging which hold the mast up from side to side.

Spring Line

A line led diagonally from the bow or stern of a ship to a point on dock to help keep the ship from moving forward or backward.

Stabilizers

Fins or rotors mounted beneath the waterline and emerging laterally from the hull to reduce a ship’s roll due to wind or waves.

Starboard

The right side of the vessel.

Starboard Bow

The front right of the vessel.

Starboard Quarter

The rear right of the vessel.

Stern

The rear end of the vessel.

Stern Line

Mooring line leading ashore from the after end of a ship, often at an angle of about 45 degrees to the fore and the aft line.

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 boat, used to service or support other boats or ships ie: transporting people or supplies to and from shore or for water based activities.

Transit

Two fixed objects lined up by an observer.

Transom

A vertical reinforcement which strengthens the stern of a boat.

Trim

To adjust the angle of the sails.

True Wind

The actual speed and direction of the wind blowing as experienced by an observer that is 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).

Alex Boska

06/10/2024