Nautical terms
23 of 469 terms in Directions & positions. Show all
A
- Abaft Directions & positions
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Farther aft than some reference point on the boat. "Abaft the mast" means somewhere behind the mast.
- Abaft the beam Directions & positions
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Any direction between straight out to the side (abeam) and straight behind (astern).
It matters in the Rules: a vessel coming up from more than 22.5 degrees abaft another's beam is overtaking.
- Abeam (On the beam) Directions & positions
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Straight out to the side of the boat, at roughly a right angle to the keel: about 090 degrees relative on the starboard beam or 270 degrees on the port beam.
- Aft (After) Directions & positions
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Toward, near or at the stern of the boat. The "aft cabin" is the cabin at the back.
- Ahead (Dead ahead) Directions & positions
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In front of the boat, in the direction the bow points (a relative bearing of about 000 degrees). "Dead ahead" means exactly straight ahead. The opposite is astern.
- Aloft Directions & positions
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Up in the rigging or up the mast. "Going aloft" means climbing or being hoisted up the mast.
- Amidships (Midships) Directions & positions
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At, near or toward the middle of the boat, lengthwise and sometimes across.
- Apparent wind (Relative wind) Directions & positions
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The wind you feel on a moving boat: the true wind combined with the wind made by the boat's own motion.
- Astern (Dead astern) Directions & positions
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Behind the boat (a relative bearing of about 180 degrees). "Going astern" also means moving backward, as in putting the engine in reverse.
- Athwartships (Athwartship) Directions & positions
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Across the boat from side to side, at right angles to the centerline, as opposed to fore-and-aft. A berth that runs athwartships lies crosswise.
F
- Forward (Fore) Directions & positions
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Toward the bow, or at the front part of the boat. "Go forward" means walk toward the bow.
- Forward of the beam Directions & positions
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Any direction between straight out to the side (abeam) and straight ahead.
Rule 19 speaks of fog signals heard "forward of the beam": if you hear one and have not ruled out risk of collision, slow to the least speed that keeps you on course.
L
- Lee shore Directions & positions
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A shore that the wind is blowing toward, as seen from your boat. If you lose power or drag anchor near one, the wind pushes you toward it.
- Leeward (Lee side, Lee, Downwind) Directions & positions
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Toward the direction the wind is blowing to; the sheltered, downwind side. The opposite is windward.
O
- On the bow (Broad on the bow) Directions & positions
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About 45 degrees off the bow on either side: relative bearing 045 on the starboard bow, 315 on the port bow. "Broad on the bow" means exactly 45 degrees.
- On the quarter (Broad on the quarter) Directions & positions
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About 45 degrees off the stern on either side: relative bearing 135 on the starboard quarter, 225 on the port quarter. The "quarters" are the after parts of the boat's sides.
P
- Port (Port side) Directions & positions
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The left-hand side of the boat when you face the bow. It stays the port side no matter which way anyone aboard is facing, which is why crews use it instead of "left".
A common memory aid: "port" and "left" both have four letters. The port sidelight is red.
- Port tack Directions & positions
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A sailboat is on port tack when the wind comes over its port side, so the mainsail is out on the starboard side.
Under Rule 12, when two sailboats on opposite tacks risk collision, the one on port tack keeps out of the way.
R
- Relative bearing Directions & positions
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The direction of an object measured from your boat's heading, usually clockwise from 000 degrees at the bow through 360. An object at 090 relative is directly off the starboard side.
S
- Starboard (Starboard side) Directions & positions
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The right-hand side of the boat when you face the bow, whichever way you happen to be standing. The word comes from the old "steering board" that early ships carried on that side.
The starboard sidelight is green.
- Starboard tack Directions & positions
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A sailboat is on starboard tack when the wind comes over its starboard side, so the mainsail is out on the port side.
When sailboats on the same tack meet, the Rules make the windward boat keep clear of the leeward one (Rule 12).
T
- True wind Directions & positions
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The actual wind speed and direction relative to the earth, as you would feel it standing still at anchor or ashore.
W
- Windward (Weather side, Upwind) Directions & positions
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Toward the direction the wind is blowing from; the side of the boat or object the wind strikes. The opposite is leeward.
For the sailing rules, a sailboat's windward side is the side opposite to where its mainsail is carried (Rule 12(b)).
General guidance for recreational boaters, researched from the sources listed and written in our own words. Your equipment manuals, local knowledge, the Navigation Rules and a qualified instructor come first.