Nautical Terms for Experienced Mariners

 

 Dive into the depths of the vast ocean of nautical knowledge with our glossary of nautical terms for experienced mariners. In this article, we will delve into the specialized and technical language used by seasoned sailors and experienced navigators. Whether you are looking to enhance your understanding of nautical vocabulary or simply have a passion for the marine world, this glossary will take you to deeper waters.

 As you master the basics of navigation and gain experience at sea, you will come across more complex and specific terms used by nautical professionals. This glossary will allow you to explore and comprehend the common terms used by experienced mariners, helping you communicate more effectively and delve into more technical aspects of navigation.

 From concepts related to meteorology and navigation to terms used in the construction and maintenance of vessels, this glossary covers a wide range of topics that will enable you to deepen your understanding of the language of the sea. Through clear definitions and illustrative examples, we will provide you with the necessary tools to understand and correctly utilize these advanced terms.

 Whether you are an experienced mariner seeking to expand your knowledge or a sailing enthusiast looking to immerse yourself in the world of nautical terminology, this glossary will open doors to a new level of understanding and appreciation for life at sea.

 So get ready to explore the vast ocean of advanced nautical terms and dive into this journey of learning that will take you to deeper waters of maritime knowledge. Welcome to our glossary of nautical terms for experienced mariners! de conocimiento náutico con nuestro glosario de términos náuticos para marineros experimentados.

 

 - AD HOC:  Any emergency arrangement improvised at sea with the materials available. Examples include makeshift rudder, makeshift rigging, makeshift anchor, etc.

 - ADRIFT:  Drifting, without control, with the boat being carried by the action of the wind, waves, current, or tide.

 - ADRIFT:  A boat without control, driven by the wind, sea, or current.

 - ALTOCUMULUS CLOUDS:  They belong to the middle clouds (altitude between 2,500 and 6,000 m). Their appearance is that of white or gray flakes of medium size and irregular structure, with shadows between the flakes. They often precede cold fronts and thunderstorms. Their abbreviation is Ac.

 - ALTOSTRATUS CLOUDS:  Clouds that form a uniform grayish layer, lighter in color than nimbostratus and darker than cirrostratus. They usually cover the entire sky, and the sun or moon can be seen through them, but in a blurry and faint way. Altostratus clouds are formed by large masses of air, usually coming from frontal systems, which condense as they rise. Their abbreviation is As.

 - ANEMOMETER:  Instrument for measuring wind speed, direction, and intensity. In sailboats, they are fixed equipment located at the top of the mast and connected to the wind system, although portable anemometers also exist.

 - ANTICYCLONE:  Region of the atmosphere where the pressure is higher than its surroundings at the same level; also known as high pressure or simply a high. It often indicates light and variable winds, and good weather.

 - ARCHIMEDES' PRINCIPLE:  Any body submerged in a liquid receives an upward force equal to the weight of the displaced liquid.

 - ARCTIC CIRCLE:  It is a parallel of latitude located 66° 33' 39" north of the equator. The territory located north of this parallel is known as the Arctic.

 - ASH HOIST:  Circular hole or opening made in the decks of a vessel for the passage of masts, winches, pumps, etc., to their respective seats.

 - ASYMMETRIC SPINNAKER:  A hybrid sail between a Genoa and a spinnaker. It is hoisted without a spinnaker pole, with the tack attached to the bow. It is also called a gennaker.

 - ATMOSPHERE:  1: Gaseous layer that surrounds the Earth and is composed of pure air combined with other gases. 2: Unit of pressure or tension equivalent to the pressure exerted by the atmosphere at sea level, equal to the pressure exerted by a column of mercury 760 mm high.

 - BALANCED RUDDER:  It is one in which a part of the blade is located forward of the pivot axis.

 - BALLAST:  In a sailboat, it is the weight placed to counteract heel. Usually, this weight is located in the keel. Heavy materials such as iron or stones are placed on the bottom of the boat to maintain stability.

 - BANK:  Seat of the rowers, also called a thwart. Large horizontal beam.

 - BAROGRAPH:  Instrument that measures atmospheric pressure and records its values, allowing for trend analysis.

 - BEACHED:  Action of beaching a boat.

 - BEAM WIND:  Term used for the wind that allows sailing on a direct course without the need to tack. It also refers to the wind that enables sailing on a straight course without the need to tack.

 - BEAUFORT SCALE:  In 1806, the English admiral Francis Beaufort published a scale composed of 12 degrees (or 12 forces) to express the strength (or speed) of the wind.

 - BELAYING LINE:  Set of twisted fibers that, when twisted together in the opposite direction to the individual ones, form a rope, which is also used on board for various purposes. It is also used to make ropes of greater diameter by braiding together three or more of these cords.

 - BELAYING PIN:  The end of the sail that extends from the halyard to the sheet. Its adjustment is made with the boom vang and is one of the most important trim adjustments on a sailboat.

 - BELAYING PIN:  Wooden peg in the shape of a point used to plug holes in the hull of a boat to prevent water from entering.

 - BELAYING PIN RACK:  Also known as batten cars, it is a line that allows us to tension the luff, closing the sail to the wind and preventing the luff area from falling off downwind. In the case of using furling sails, which is increasingly common, it is very important to tension this line before furling the sail to avoid it from furling with twist.

 - BIGHT:  Method of securing a rope to a cleat so that the last turn of the rope is held by the cleat.

 - BILGE PUMP:  Device used to remove water from a small boat. It is usually a container that can be manually filled and then the water is thrown overboard.

 - BILGE PUMP:  Water extraction pump located at the lowest point of the boat, the bilge.

 - BLADE:  Flat and wide part of the oar that rests on the water. Flat part of the rudder that is submerged. Blades of the propeller.

 - BLOCK AND TACKLE:  It is a rigging that combines fixed and movable pulleys traversed by a single rope, which has one of its ends anchored to a fixed point. It is used in the lifting or movement of loads whenever we want to exert less effort than we would need to lift the object by hand.

 - BOATYARD:  Place where boats are beached to keep them dry for cleaning and scraping the hull, repairs, etc.

 - BOOM BRAKE:  Safety device that protects the crew of a sailboat from unexpected or accidental jibes. The boom brake is achieved by friction from the lines that tighten and slide inside a cylinder.

 - BOOM CRUTCH:  Upper edge of a small boat, where the oars that propel it are fixed.

 - BOW ROLLER:  Cylinder that rotates around an axis, around which a rope or chain passes.

 - BOWLINE:  Rope with a sliding knot at one end.

 - BOWSPRIT:  Any piece of wood, iron, or metal that protrudes from the main body of the boat to support something. A piece that supports the propeller shaft.

 - BRACE:  Fixed maneuver used to support a mast athwartships and aft.

 - BREAKWATER:  Structure or wall that aims to break the wave, nullifying its energy.

 - BREEZE:  Railing placed at the foot of the masts of sailing ships for the safety of the crew and for securing ropes.

 - BRIG:  Three or more-masted ship with the first two masts rigged with square sails like a brigantine, and the rest with fore-and-aft sails. Typical arrangement in corvettes.

 - BROAD REACH:  Sailing of a sailboat with the wind coming from astern. Precise steering is necessary to avoid unintentional jibes, especially in cross seas. To prevent this, it is common to install a preventer, which is a line that prevents the boom from accidentally switching sides.

 - BULKHEAD:  Interior bulkhead.

 - BULWARK:  Structural element of the boat that reinforces the deck of the boat at the point where the hatch opens, forming its opening.

 - BUOY:  Small buoy that is usually placed as a reference to indicate the location of a mooring line and, sometimes, the anchor.

 - CABIN BOY:  Apprentice sailor.

 - CABLE:  Unit of length, equivalent to one-tenth of a nautical mile, or 185.2 m. Metal rope formed by twisted wires.

 - CALM:  Term for absolute calm. Dead calm.

 - CANDLESTICK:  Vertical metal rod, usually cylindrical, located on the outer edge of the boat. Its function is to hold the lifelines to prevent crew members from falling overboard.

 - CAPSIZE:  Maneuver of turning a rowing boat around by moving the oars on one side in the opposite direction to those on the other side.

 - CAST NET:  Circular fishing net that is thrown and retrieved by hand.

 - CATENARY:  Curve described by a rope, cable, or chain suspended at its ends. If the weight of it were distributed evenly along the straight line connecting the ends, the curve would be a parabola. The catenary occurs in the anchor rode, ensuring that the anchor is horizontally pulled, optimizing its performance.

 - CENTERBOARD:  Supplementary flat piece that is attached to the central lower part of the hull. It serves to provide greater stability and control drift in sailboats. It can be fixed or movable.

 - CHAFING GEAR:  Fitting that allows a rope to be secured and quickly released.

 - CHEST:  Cabinet located on the ship's deck intended for stowing materials such as mooring lines, fenders, life rafts, hoses, gas supply, etc. In sailboats, there are usually three or four, and the covers of these chests are often used as seats in the cockpit.

 - CIRCULAR COURSE:  It is the angle formed by the bow-stern line with the meridian of the place (with the north) and is measured from 0º to 360º clockwise.

 - CIRRIFORM CLOUDS:  Type of cloud in the form of a white feather-like plume with a fibrous appearance. They are cirrus clouds, cirrostratus clouds, and cirrocumulus clouds.

 - CIRROCUMULUS CLOUDS:  They form an almost continuous layer that resembles a surface with fine wrinkles and rounded shapes like small flakes of cotton. These clouds are completely white and do not cast shadows. When the sky is covered with Cirrocumulus clouds, it is often said to be mackerel sky. Cirrocumulus clouds often appear alongside Cirrus clouds and usually indicate a change in the weather in the next 24-48 hours. This type of cloud often precedes storms. Its abbreviation is Cc.

 - CIRROSTRATUS CLOUDS:  High clouds with a thin, whitish veil-like appearance. They occasionally give rise to solar and lunar halos. Its abbreviation is Cs.

 - CIRRUS CLOUDS:  White, transparent clouds with an elongated and filamentous appearance, moving at an altitude above 6,000 meters. They are composed of ice crystals and do not produce precipitation. They usually precede frontal systems and therefore are often a sign of a sudden change in weather within 24 to 48 hours, usually accompanied by a drop in temperatures. Its abbreviation is Ci.

 - CLAMOROUS:  Name of the triangular sail hoisted between the mast and the peak of a gaff sail.

 - CLAMP:  Fitting that allows a rope to be secured and quickly released.

 - CLEAT:  Bowline knot. A knot made on another rope or object that slides along its length. A short length of rope, made fast to the bow of smaller boats, used for mooring them to a boat, dock, etc.

 - CLEAT:  Hand compass with optical sighting mechanism that allows for taking bearings.

 - CLIFF:  Site or place that forms a step on the coast or on the seabed.

 - CLOSE-HAULED WIND:  The wind that comes from the bow and forces the vessel to sail as close to the wind as possible.

 - CLOTH:  Set of sails on a vessel.

 - CLOUD:  Mass of water vapor suspended in the atmosphere. If you are a sailor, it is essential to know its different types to predict the weather.

 - COASTLINE CLIFFS:  Lines connecting points of equal depth.

 - COCKPIT:  Loop or coil formed by a rope or chain when it extends due to torsion.

 - COMPASS ROSE:  Circle on which the divisions of the compass points are marked on the horizon. In the past, the circle was divided into 32 points, but nowadays it is divided into 360 degrees.

 - COORDINATED UNIVERSAL TIME:  Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the reference time zone against which all other time zones in the world are calculated.

 - COVE:  Small cove or bay. Distance between the masts of the rigging or angular opening of the stays, of the obencadura.

 - CRADLE:  Iron or wooden support forming a framework, designed to support a boat when it is brought ashore.

 - CREST:  Highest part of a wave.

 - CROSS TREE:  Cross-shaped element located above the middle of the mast whose mission is to transmit lateral force to the shrouds.

 - CUMULIFORM CLOUDS:  Type of clouds with a flat base, white, and dense appearance. They include cumulus, stratocumulus, cumulonimbus, altocumulus, and cirrocumulus.

 - CUMULONIMBUS CLOUDS:  Dense clouds that show significant vertical development and a mountain-like anvil-shaped appearance at the top. Cumulonimbus clouds form without correlation with fronts, due to local causes, in areas with high humidity, strong insolation, and presence of geographical features that favor vertical development movements. In certain cases, they can cause severe storms, hail, or showers. Its abbreviation is Cb.

 - CUMULONIMBUS CLOUDS:  Clouds that can be found from the ground up to over 6,000 meters: cumulus (Cu), cumulonimbus (Cb).

 - CUMULUS CLOUDS:  Isolated and dense clouds, usually white, that develop vertically with bulges and do not usually cause rain. They form under anticyclonic conditions at altitudes between 500 and 6,000 meters. They can be found both isolated and in large groups. Their formation is due to the hot air currents formed by convection, which rise to a height where the moisture condenses. As a result, they grow vertically rather than horizontally. If the convection current is very intense, cumulus clouds can transform into cumulonimbus clouds that produce showers. Its abbreviation is Cu.

 - CURRENTS:  Movement of large masses of water through oceans and seas. They are defined by their direction (where they are going) and their speed or hourly intensity. An East current goes eastward, contrary to what happens when referring to winds.

 - DEEP-SEA:  Line connecting points of equal depth on nautical charts, also called an isobath. Shore or edge. Boundary from which there is a pronounced change in depth of a lake or sea bed.

 - DEPRESSION:  Region of the atmosphere where the pressure is low compared to the surrounding area at the same level; also called low pressure or simply low.

 - DEVIATION:  Angle formed between the direction of the magnetic meridian and the direction of the needle. Magnetic variation. (Mv)

 - DEW:  Vapor that condenses in the atmosphere into very fine droplets due to the nighttime cold, which then appear on the surface of the earth, plants, or any other surface.

 - DOCK:  Artificial masonry enclosure built in the inner and more sheltered part of ports to provide shelter for boats.

 - DRAFT:  Vertical distance between the hull and the main deck.

 - DREDGER:  Boat designed for dredging, cleaning, and/or deepening the bottoms of ports and canals.

 - DRIFT:  Deviation from the course due to the effect of the current. It can be expressed as the angular difference between True Heading (TH) and Course Over Ground (COG).

 - DRIFT ANCHOR:  Synthetic fabric used to make most sails.

 - DRIFTER SAIL:  A very light headsail used in light winds. It is an ultra-light Genoa designed for close-hauled sailing.

 - DRIZZLE:  Uniform precipitation consisting of tiny droplets of water very close to each other. Drizzle falls from a dense layer of stratus clouds.

 - EBB CURRENT:  The moment when the current associated with the tide becomes zero.

 - EBB TIDE:  Sailing with the wind coming from abeam, that is, aft of the beam.

 - EBB TIDE:  Period between high tide and the following low tide.

 - ELECTROMETEOR:  Visible or audible manifestation of electricity in the atmosphere. The main ones are lightning, thunder, and the aurora borealis.

 - EMERGENCY POSITION-INDICATING RADIO BEACON:  Emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB).

 - EMERGENCY RADIO BEACON:  Electronic safety equipment that indicates its own position through radio signals (EPIRB). The signal is normally transmitted on frequencies of 406 MHz (Cospas-Sarsat locating satellites) and 121.5 MHz (frequency of the Search and Rescue - S.A.R. Air Service).

 - EMERGENCY TILLER:  The emergency rudder, or makeshift rudder, is a stainless steel piece specially designed to be manually steered from the cockpit, connecting directly to the rudder shaft.

 - EPACT:  It is the number of days that a common solar year of 365 days exceeds the lunar year of 354 days.

 - EQUATOR:  Imaginary circle that surrounds the planet at a distance halfway between the poles. It divides the planet into the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. The latitude of the equator is 0°. Its circumference is approximately 40,075 km or 24,901.5 miles.

 - FATHOM:  Unit of length, commonly used in the Navy, equivalent to 2 yards or 1.6718 meters or 6 feet. Rope used to orient the yards to which the sails are fastened.

 - FIDDLE BLOCK:  Fitting used to change the direction of a rope. It is the equivalent of pulleys used on land.

 - FIGUREHEAD:  Figure placed at the bow of sailing vessels.

 - FIRE HOSE:  Fiberglass piece attached to the outer part of a hatch and oriented to windward, used for ventilating the interior of the boat.

 - FJORD:  Narrow and deep gulf between mountains with steep slopes, formed by glaciers during the Quaternary period.

 - FLOATING ANCHOR:  Anchor dropped astern to slow down the boat's progress.

 - FOOTROPE:  Lower and horizontal side of triangular sails.

 - FORCE 1:  In the Beaufort scale, it means Light Air, wind speed between 1 and 3 knots.

 - FORCE 10:  In the Beaufort scale, it means Storm, wind speed between 48 and 55 knots.

 - FORCE 11:  In the Beaufort scale, it means Violent Storm, wind speed between 56 and 64 knots.

 - FORCE 12:  In the Beaufort scale, it means Hurricane, wind speed over 64 knots.

 - FORCE 2:  In the Beaufort scale, it means Light Breeze, very weak wind, wind speed between 4 and 6 knots.

 - FORCE 3:  In the Beaufort scale, it means Gentle Breeze, light breeze, wind speed between 7 and 10 knots.

 - FORCE 4:  In the Beaufort scale, it means Moderate Breeze, moderate breeze, wind speed between 11 and 16 knots.

 - FORCE 5:  In the Beaufort scale, it means Fresh Breeze, fresh breeze, wind speed between 17 and 21 knots.

 - FORCE 6:  In the Beaufort scale, it means Strong Breeze, strong breeze, wind speed between 22 and 27 knots.

 - FORCE 7:  In the Beaufort scale, it means High Wind, strong wind, wind speed between 28 and 33 knots.

 - FORCE 8:  In the Beaufort scale, it means Gale, stormy wind, wind speed between 34 and 40 knots.

 - FORCE 9:  In the Beaufort scale, it means Strong Gale, strong storm, wind speed between 41 and 47 knots.

 - FORCED REEFS:  A full-length batten is one that goes through the sail from luff to leech. It can be placed with some compression to give curvature to the sail.

 - FORESAIL:  Description of the sea state caused by wind, indicated as number 5 on the Douglas scale, with waves of 2.5 to 4.0 meters.

 - FRAMES:  They are the pieces that could be called the ribs of the boat, on which the outer planking is nailed. The main frame is the one that corresponds to the transverse section of the largest surface, located amidships.

 - FREEBOARD:  It is the upper part of the gunwale in smaller boats. Reinforcement that is placed as a vertical extension of the side above the deck.

 - FRONT:  In meteorology, a front is the boundary between air masses of different characteristics.

 - FULL RIG:  Rigging in which the forestays, backstays, and shrouds are attached to the masthead. The mast installed for this rigging must be very resistant to bending, as it is subjected to high loads.

 - FULLY FURLED:  It is said when the boat sails with the sails reduced as much as possible without lowering them. Normally with two or three reefs.

 - GALE:  Sudden and violent storm with strong westerly to northwesterly gusts that usually hits the Bay of Biscay and its coasts, generally in spring and autumn.

 - GALVANIZED:  Electrochemical process by which a metal can be covered with another. The purpose of galvanization is to protect the surface of the treated metal against corrosion.

 - GASKET:  Fisherman's bend or "Perfect Bend." A knot tied at the end of a rope by folding it backward and forming a loop or bight around the object it is tied to, without tightening around it. The bend is fixed and does not slip.

 - GRATING:  Edge of a sail that is attached to the mast or the forestay, forming the leading edge. Its trimming is done with the cunningham.

 - GULF:  Large body of water that extends into the land between two capes.

 - GUST:  Gust, it is a temporary deviation of wind speed from its average value. This deviation can be positive or negative and lasts for a relatively short time.

 - GUSTY:  It is called the wind that blows in gusts.

 - GUSTY WIND:  Wind that blows in gusts, with variable intensity.

 - HAIL:  Precipitation of ice pellets or chunks with a diameter larger than 5 mm. This phenomenon is observed during severe convective storms in which cumulonimbus clouds develop rapidly.

 - HALO:  Photo meteor, a luminous ring-shaped phenomenon from 22° to 46° centered on a celestial body, produced when its emitted light refracts through ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere. This phenomenon is associated with the presence of cirrostratus clouds.

 - HALYARD:  In a merchant ship, pantry (place where food is stored).

 - HALYARDS:  Each of the turns of a rope, cable, or chain that is coiled upon itself.

 - HANDRAIL:  Wooden elements that are usually placed on deck and serve the purpose of providing us with something to hold onto.

 - HARBOR:  Beach that serves as a landing place.

 - HAZE:  Suspension of very small dust particles in the atmosphere, darkening it and reducing visibility. It occurs in dry weather and calm winds. It is typical of anticyclonic conditions.

 - HEAVY-DUTY:  Term used for the spare parts of certain items reserved for the repair of a breakdown.

 - HEELING:  Condition in which a boat's heel, or inclination with respect to the vertical, is positive.

 - HEMP:  Annual plant of the hemp family (Cannabis sativa). The fiber of this plant was mainly used to make ropes.

 - HIGH CLOUDS:  These are clouds located at an altitude of over 6,000 meters: cirrus (Ci), cirrocumulus (Cc), cirrostratus (Cs).

 - HIGH TIDE:  Moment when the seawater reaches its highest level within a tide.

 - HORN:  Generally, it is the metal lining that internally coats a hole. Referring to the propeller shaft, it is the opening that allows the propeller shaft to rotate through the hull without allowing water to enter.

 - HULL:  Seaman with experience and knowledge of maritime tasks.

 - HULL NUMBER:  Biocide paint used to periodically paint the underwater part of the boat to reduce the growth of marine life on the hull. (Antifouling)

 - HUMIDITY:  It is the water vapor content in the air. It can be expressed as absolute humidity, specific humidity, relative humidity, or mixing ratio.

 - HYDRAULIC RAM BREAK:  Ship's Log Time. The time kept on board, usually the Legal Time, and updated whenever changing time zones.

 - HYDROMETEOR:  Meteorological phenomenon consisting of a collection of watery, liquid, or solid particles falling through the atmosphere. The watery particles can be suspended, lifted by the wind from the Earth's surface, or deposited on objects in the free atmosphere. The main types include rain, drizzle, snow, hail, fog, mist, dew, frost, shower, and waterspout.

 - HYGROMETER:  Instrument used to measure the humidity level of the air or other gases. In meteorology, it is an instrument used to measure the moisture content in the atmosphere.

 - IMPELLER:  An impeller is a rotor located inside a tube or conduit to increase the pressure and circulation of the fluid flowing through it.

 - INCH:  Unit of length equivalent to 2.54 cm.

 - INERTIAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM:  National Meteorological Institute of Spain.

 - INLET:  Small cove. A small inlet where the sea enters and only small boats can enter.

 - INTERNATIONAL CODE OF SIGNALS:  Code approved by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1965, whose main purpose is to address situations related to navigation safety and the safety of individuals. Each letter or group of letters, represented by flags, has a specific meaning. It consists of twenty-six alphabet flags, ten numeral pennants, three repeater pennants, and one distinguishing pennant. Some messages can also be transmitted through light signals or radiotelephony.

 - ISLAND:  Island. A portion of land surrounded by water on all sides.

 - ISOBARS:  Lines connecting points on the Earth's surface that have the same pressure at a given moment. They are usually plotted on weather charts with multiples of 4 (1,004, 1,008, 1,012...). The standard pressure for weather charts is 1,012.

 - ISOBATHS:  Line connecting points of equal depth. Isobaths.

 - ISTHMUS:  Narrow strip of land connecting two continents or a peninsula to a continent.

 - KEDGE ANCHOR:  Open canvas cone that, dragged astern, serves to reduce the boat's speed and prevent it from broaching to the waves. It can also be deployed forward, causing the boat to head into the waves and drift at a minimum speed.

 - KEY:  Each of the shallow, sandy islands, often flooded and covered in mangroves.

 - KNEES:  Set of two or three parallelly placed pulleys within the same frame.

 - KNOTS AT THE TOP:  Bowline knot. Knots made at the end of a rope to prevent the rope from slipping through a ring, carabiner, or other knot, or to add weight to the end of the rope for throwing purposes.

 - LAGOON:  Coastal lagoon, in a low coast, with saline or slightly brackish water, separated from the sea by a tongue or sandbar.

 - LAND BREEZE:  Land breeze. Blows from the land toward the sea when the temperature of the land surface is lower than the temperature of the sea surface.

 - LARGE WAVE:  Reinforced round eyelet made on the reefed sides of the sail, at the corners, and on the reef band, through which a rope is passed to adjust them.

 - LASHING:  Location on the mast where the shrouds and the forestay are attached.

 - LEEWARD WIND:  Geographical location protected from the wind. Shelter or refuge provided by something on the leeward side or opposite side of the wind. Take cover or shelter from something.

 - LEEWAY:  Deviation of the downwind course that a boat experiences due to the action of the wind. It can be expressed as the angular difference between the True Heading of the bow (TH) and the Surface Heading (SH) or actual track over the ground (COG).

 - LIFE RAFT:  Inflatable raft intended solely for emergency situations where the boat must be abandoned. Designed for use in extreme conditions.

 - LIGHTNING:  High-intensity electric spark produced by discharge between two clouds or between a cloud and the ground.

 - LIGHTNING:  Visible electric discharge generated during a storm.

 - LOG LINE:  Device that measures the speed at which a ship is sailing.

 - LOGBOOK:  Wooden, brass, or fiberglass housing for the compass. Generally cylindrical in shape, it is fixed on the deck in front of the wheel or tiller.

 - LOGBOOK:  It is a book where the vicissitudes of navigation and elements of the course are recorded in detail. Each page corresponds to a voyage.

 - LOOSE:  Shores or planks that, while constructing a ship's hull, serve to hold the frames in place.

 - LOSS:  Deformation or flexing of the hull that causes the draft at the midship section to be less than the average draft of the boat.

 - LOW CLOUDS:  These are clouds located at an altitude of less than 2,500 meters: nimbostratus (Ns), stratus (St), stratocumulus (Sc).

 - LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS:  Also known as depression or low-pressure system. They are areas of low pressure delimited by a closed isobar. The pressure will be lower than 1,015 mb, decreasing as we approach the center of the low-pressure system. In the northern hemisphere, winds rotate counterclockwise. In the southern hemisphere, they rotate clockwise.

 - LOW TIDE:  Moment, within a tide, when the sea reaches its lowest height.

 - LUG SAIL:  Also known as a fan-shaped sail. It is a rectangular sail with one of its sides fixed to the mast and extended diagonally by a spar from the tack to the top of the luff.

 - MANGROVE:  Land in the tropical zone covered by water during high tides, filled with estuaries that cut through it, forming many low islands where trees that thrive in saltwater grow. Mangrove-populated land.

 - MAST:  In sailing ships, it is the vertical mast that supports the sails.

 - MAST:  Vertical tube, usually made of aluminum, that holds the sails. It is supported from bow to stern by the stays and laterally by the shrouds.

 - MAST RIGGING:  The set of masts on a boat.

 - MERIDIAN:  Meridians are the great circles on the Earth's sphere that pass through the poles. Points located on the same meridian have the same longitude. In geographic coordinates, the Greenwich Meridian is used as the reference for longitudes. Together with parallels, they form the geographic coordinate system based on latitude and longitude.

 - METEOROLOGY:  Science that studies the atmosphere, including the study of weather and climate, and deals with the physical, dynamic, and chemical aspects of the Earth's atmosphere.

 - MID-LEVEL CLOUDS:  These are clouds located at an altitude between 2,500 and 6,000 meters: altostratus (As), altocumulus (Ac).

 - MILLIBAR:  It is the unit of pressure that directly expresses the force exerted by the atmosphere, equivalent to 100 pascals.

 - MIST:  Mist is an atmospheric phenomenon consisting of the suspension of tiny particles of water or other hygroscopic material near the surface, which reduces visibility. It is also called fog.

 - MISTRAL:  Northwest wind (NW).

 - MIZZEN:  Small and very strong sail set on the mast with a free foot, used in storms.

 - MIZZENMAST:  In ships with multiple masts, it is the mast closest to the stern. This term is also used for the sail set on this mast.

 - MOTORSAILER:  Sailboat with mixed propulsion: sail and motor.

 - MUSHROOM ANCHOR:  Small auxiliary anchor used to reinforce the primary anchor.

 - NAUTICAL ALMANAC:  Compilation of all the elements necessary for astronomical observations and calculations, for every day of the year.

 - NAVIGATION LOG:  It is a book where all the details of a ship's voyage are recorded.

 - NEAP TIDE:  The tide that occurs shortly after the moon is in the first or third quarter.

 - NEEDLE-SHAPED CLOUDS:  Abbreviation for Nimbostratus.

 - NET:  Rigging made with threads, ropes, or wires arranged in mesh form and conveniently arranged for fishing, hunting, fencing, securing, etc.

 - NIMBOSTRATUS CLOUDS:  Nimbostratus clouds are rain clouds. They form a thick gray layer that obscures the sun, with a veiled appearance due to constant rain or snowfall. Sometimes they are accompanied by lower clouds. Their abbreviation is Ns.

 - NORTH WIND:  North wind. The term is of Genoese origin referring to the wind from beyond the Alps.

 - NORTHEAST WIND:  Northeast wind (NE). In winter months, it can cause strong storms in Levante and the Balearic Islands.

 - NORTHERN LIGHTS:  Luminous meteor observed near the magnetic poles, produced by electrically charged particles originating from solar eruptions.

 - ORDINARY RUDDER:  It is one in which the entire blade is located aft of the pivot axis.

 - OSMOSIS:  Water leakage through capillarity in fiberglass and polyester hulls, causing the appearance of blisters.

 - PARALLEL:  Each of the circles on the Earth's surface whose planes are parallel to the equator.

 - PHOTOMETEOR:  Luminous phenomenon caused by the reflection, refraction, diffraction, or interference of sunlight or moonlight. The main ones are halo, rainbow, corona, Ulloa's rings, mirage, green flash, and twilight colors.

 - PILOT:  Rope or rigging that serves to keep an object in its proper position.

 - PILOT:  Pilot or seafarer who is hired to navigate a ship through a particular place due to their extensive knowledge of it.

 - PINEAPPLE:  Head knot tied at the end of a rope, with its strands previously unlaid, in order to prevent the end of the rope from slipping out of the ring or cleat where it is secured.

 - PLAN:  Lower and wider part of the ship's bottom in the hold. Almost horizontal part on each side of the keel.

 - POOP DECK:  One of the lower floors or decks of the ship, where accommodations and storerooms are usually installed.

 - PREVENTER:  Swivel shackle that is generally placed in the middle of a lanyard or at the end closest to the hook, in order to prevent either the lanyard or the hook from tightening on itself and forming loops that would prevent them from running easily through the rings that guide their path.

 - PULLEY:  Mechanical device for traction or lifting, consisting of a wheel (called a pulley) mounted on an axle, with a rope that wraps around the circumference of the wheel. The main function of the pulley is to change the direction of a force by the use of ropes.

 - PULPIT:  Railing placed at the bow of the ship, which serves the same function as the guardrail and serves to secure it.

 - QUADRANT:  Each of the four main divisions of the compass rose and, therefore, also the horizon.

 - RADAR:  Object detection system used in aeronautics, navigation, astronomy, etc., which serves to indicate the presence of an object and determine the distance to it by emitting special high-frequency waves reflected in it.

 - RAIN:  Precipitation of liquid water droplets larger than 0.5 mm in diameter, or smaller but widely dispersed.

 - RAIN CLOUDS:  For sailors, it is advisable to put on a rain jacket if you encounter nimbostratus (Ns) and cumulonimbus (Cb) clouds.

 - RAINCOAT:  Waterproof garment used during showers, that is, when it rains.

 - REEF:  Rope that passes through a reefing cringle of the sail and allows its surface to be reduced.

 - RHUMB LINE COURSE:  Constant course track. The course always forms the same angle with the meridians.

 - RIGGING:  Refers to the set of accessories on the deck of a boat, such as shackles, carabiners, etc., used for maneuvering the sails.

 - RIGGING:  Set of masts, booms, and rigging of a boat / Set of blocks and ropes that allow for force multiplication.

 - RIGGING:  Any set of ropes, and therefore, the total of those on a boat.

 - RIGGING:  General term for the set of cables and ropes used to secure the rigging.

 - RIGHT-HANDED:  Right-hand propeller, which, when going forward and viewed from astern, rotates clockwise. On a boat with a right-hand propeller: Going forward, the bow veers starboard. When reversing, the stern swings portside.

 - RING:  Fixed ring on any element.

 - RISING TIDE:  Period of the tide between low water and the next high water. Also called flood tide or incoming tide.

 - ROPE:  Rope with a thickness between 30 and 50 mm.

 - ROPE:  Thin rope with multiple applications.

 - ROPE CUTTER:  Circular blade installed a few centimeters from the propeller to prevent ropes from getting entangled in the shaft by cutting them.

 - RUDDER AMIDSHIPS:  The rudder is on course when its plane coincides with the ship's centerline plane. Center the rudder with the centerline axis, so that the boat follows a straight course without any lateral deviation.

 - RUNNING RIGGING:  It consists of all the ropes on board: sheets and all maneuvering lines.

 - SABER:  Sail battens are fiber or wooden sheets inserted into the sail's pockets on its luff, shaping the sail's profile and maintaining its curvature.

 - SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA:  International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea or SOLAS. It is the most important safety treaty for merchant ships.

 - SAIL AREA:  Area or surface of a sail, or the set of sails on a sailboat.

 - SAILING DIRECTIONS:  Publications that provide detailed descriptions of the coast and useful advice for navigation, complementing the information provided by nautical charts.

 - SAILMAKING:  Workshop where sails are constructed and repaired.

 - SATURATED AIR:  Air that contains the maximum amount of water vapor possible for a given temperature and pressure (Relative Humidity = 100%).

 - SCRAPER:  Iron plate with sharp edges and a wooden handle, used to clean the decks and sides of ships.

 - SCUPPER:  Opening made in the ship's side at the deck level to allow the water running on it to drain.

 - SEA:  Body of saltwater covering the majority of the Earth's surface, including oceans and smaller seas.

 - SEA BREEZE:  Persistent local wind that flows during the day near the coasts, from the sea toward land, with maximum speeds of 20 km/h. The basic cause of this wind flow is the difference in heating between the sea surface and the land surface due to solar radiation.

 - SEAT:  Difference between the draft at the bow and the draft at the stern.

 - SEAWEED:  Each of the thallophyte plants, unicellular or multicellular, that prefer to live in water, both fresh and marine, and which, in general, are provided with chlorophyll sometimes accompanied by other pigments of varied colors that mask it.

 - SEXTANT:  Navigation instrument used to measure the vertical angles of stars, lighthouses, etc., and also the horizontal angles of landmarks on land.

 - SHACKLE:  Metal piece, commonly U-shaped, crossed at its perforated ends by a pin called a bolt. It is used to join or secure something.

 - SHEAR:  Tool similar to large scissors used to cut metal.

 - SHEET BEND:  Knot useful for joining two ropes of different diameters; a quick way to secure a rope to a hook.

 - SHEET CLEAT:  Fitting, usually with a pulley, through which the sheets pass.

 - SHEET TRAVELER:  Carriage that allows us to move the sheet horizontally leeward or windward to trim the mainsail.

 - SHIFT:  Crew list of a ship.

 - SHIP:  Generic term for a vessel, ship, or boat. Any naval construction intended for navigation, regardless of its class, including its integral parts and accessory parts, such as rigging, spare parts, supplies, machinery, instruments, and accessories that, without being part of the structure of the ship, are used in its service both at sea and in port.

 - SHOAL:  Elevation of the sea or river bed that prevents boats from floating and poses a risk to navigation.

 - SHOAL:  Point or tongue of sand or stone located underwater and at shallow depth.

 - SHOALS:  Dangerous rocky outcrops shaped like needles almost at water level, very dangerous for navigation.

 - SHROUD:  Small round stake inserted in the gunwale of a boat to which the oar is tied.

 - SHROUDS:  Ropes or cables that hold a mast laterally.

 - SIDE LIGHT:  Each of the ropes, chains, or cables that transmit the movements of the steering wheel to the tiller to steer the boat.

 - SIROCCO:  Hot and dry southeast wind blowing from the African continent towards the Mediterranean. Equivalent to the Xaloc.

 - SLACK:  Boat with low metacentric height. It will have more difficulty returning to the upright position after a roll.

 - SLACKENING:  Nighttime moisture (dew) that condenses on the boat and the dock as evening falls on calm evenings. It is important to wear very grippy footwear as the deck and gangways, ladders, etc. become very slippery surfaces.

 - SLEET:  Type of precipitation in which water exists in two states forming a mixture of frozen water and liquid water.

 - SLIDING:  Knot that forms a loop around its standing part and tightens when pulled.

 - SLIDING FITTINGS:  Slip or sliding knots are those that form a loop that tightens when the standing part is pulled.

 - SLOOP:  Small sailing boat with fine lines, one mast, rigged with a leg-of-mutton sail and a jib or staysail.

 - SNUBBER:  Piece placed on the anchor shank to facilitate the grip on the seabed with the anchor flukes.

 - SOLSTICE:  The period when the sun is at one of the two tropics, which occurs from June 21 to 22 for the Tropic of Cancer and from December 21 to 22 for the Tropic of Capricorn.

 - SOUTH WIND:  South wind.

 - SOUTHEAST WIND:  Hot and dry southeast wind blowing from the African continent towards the Mediterranean. Equivalent to the Sirocco.

 - SOUTHWEST WIND:  Lebeche or Garbí is the name given in the eastern part of Spain to the wind blowing from the southwest. Due to its origin, it often carries sand.

 - SPAR:  Any mast that is part of a ship's rigging.

 - SPINNAKER:  Also known as a gennaker or informally as "Spi". It is a triangular sail with a large belly used in open winds.

 - SPINNAKER POLE:  Metal or wooden pole that is hinged at one end to the mast and holds the tack of sails such as the spinnaker or Genoa.

 - SPLICE:  Knot used to join two ropes at their ends. For a secure connection, it is advisable for the ropes to have similar diameters and materials.

 - SPRAYHOOD:  Canopy installed on deck whose function is to protect the crew from wind and sea spray.

 - SPRING TIDE:  The tide that occurs shortly after the new moon or full moon.

 - SQUALL:  Precipitation of water droplets falling from a cumulonimbus cloud. It is characterized by starting and ending suddenly, abrupt changes in intensity, and rapid changes in the state of the sky.

 - SQUELCH:  It could be translated into Spanish as a "silenciador". Squelch is a function of radio frequency equipment that allows us to limit background noise in the radio signal, silencing it.

 - STANDING RIGGING:  Running rigging. Set of halyards, sheets, downhauls, and any other rope used in sail handling.

 - STANDING RIGGING:  Term used for all onboard cables. They mainly include shrouds and stays.

 - START:  Moment when the race starts.

 - STEM:  Extension of the keel vertically at its forward part, either straight or curved depending on the type of boat.

 - STORM:  Atmospheric disturbance characterized by strong winds, abundant precipitation, and sometimes electrical phenomena.

 - STORM:  Precipitation in the form of a heavy shower, accompanied by strong winds, caused by a cumulonimbus cloud.

 - STORM JIB:  Strong and smaller foresail used in very harsh wind conditions.

 - STOWAWAY:  Person who clandestinely boards a ship with the purpose of traveling without paying a fare.

 - STRAIT:  Channel that connects two seas.

 - STRATIFORM CLOUDS:  Type of cloud that forms gray layers that uniformly cover the sky. It includes stratus, nimbostratus, altostratus, and cirrostratus.

 - STRONG GUST OF WIND:  Strong wind.

 - STRONG SWELL:  Description of the sea state caused by wind, indicated as number 4 on the Douglas scale, with waves of 1.25 to 2.5 meters.

 - SUBSIDENCE:  Downward movement of an air layer over an extensive area, causing stability in the atmosphere.

 - SUNRISE:  Sunrise or the rising of another celestial body above the horizon.

 - SUNSET:  Passage of a celestial body from the visible hemisphere (above the horizon) to the invisible hemisphere (below the horizon).

 - SURFACE CHART:  Surface synoptic chart. A map that shows a synopsis of the meteorological situation at the surface level.

 - SWELL:  Swell. Waves generated in advance, with winds from a distant and different area than the one being sailed. This swell consists of longer wavelength waves (with greater distance between them) than the wind-generated waves in the current area.

 - TACK:  Also called yawing or luffing. It is a maneuver in which a sailboat, usually against the helmsman's will, makes a sudden turn towards windward, crossing its original course. It can occur for several reasons: On close-hauled or beam reach courses, due to excessive sail area when the wind increases, causing excessive heel, which, if not corrected quickly, can lead to a loss of control of the helm. The natural evolution of the sailboat in this situation is to turn uncontrollably towards windward until it points directly into the wind. On broad reach or running courses, simply deviating a few degrees off course due to following waves, cross waves, or a helmsman's oversight can cause an unintentional jibe and the sailboat to turn across the wind, heading towards windward. In this latter case, it is highly advisable to prevent possible jibes by using a preventer or by installing a boom brake on our sailboat.

 - TACKLE:  Loop knot that is easy to untie and is used for hanging fenders. To tie it, make a loop (or two for added security) around the object, then pass the rope over the bight, and finally pass the bitter end between the rope and the object.

 - TAR:  Artificial pitch composed of pitch, tallow, resin, and other ingredients, applied to the wood of boats to protect them from the weather.

 - TAUT:  Boat with high metacentric height, which tends to be resistant to heeling and will rock quickly and violently from side to side.

 - TENSIONER:  Fitting that allows for adjusting the tension of the shrouds.

 - THUNDER:  Loud noise associated with lightning produced in clouds by an electrical discharge.

 - TIDAL CURRENT:  The moment when the water level remains steady at high tide or low tide.

 - TIDAL LINES:  Cotidal lines are the lines connecting points where high tide occurs simultaneously.

 - TIDAL RANGE:  It is the difference between the heights of consecutive high tides and low tides.

 - TIDE:  It is the periodic change in sea level mainly caused by the gravitational forces of the moon and the sun. Tides are also affected by other factors such as atmospheric pressure. The approximate time between high tide and low tide is 6 hours and 12 minutes, completing a cycle of 24 hours and 50 minutes.

 - TO AVOID:  To tack; it is said when the wind is shifting, either picking up or dying down, and similarly on a sailing ship, it is luffed or brought up to prevent the sails from touching. To tack at sea, to come about and bear away alternatively to prevent the ship from being struck by heavy seas and causing damage.

 - TO BAIL OUT WATER:  Extracting water or other liquid from the bilge or any compartment, using bailers, pumps, or any other means.

 - TO BALLAST:  To load and properly position ballast to ensure the ship's navigational stability.

 - TO BATTEN DOWN:  Rowing backward, resulting in the boat moving backward. Rowing toward the stern. In a mechanically propelled boat, reversing the normal rotation of the propellers to make it move backward or to stop forward motion.

 - TO BEACH:  To run a ship aground, causing it to lose control and become immobilized. To beach a vessel for repairs.

 - TO BEAR AWAY:  Downwind separation from the course due to wind, sea, or current.

 - TO BEAT:  To sail close-hauled, changing tacks alternately in order to reach a point directly into the wind.

 - TO CAPSIZE:  To hoist flags of the Signal Codes using halyards between the mastheads from bow to stern to decorate the boat during major celebrations and solemnities.

 - TO CAULK:  Fill the joints of the planks on the bottom, sides, and decks with oakum, and then cover them with a layer of tar to prevent water from entering.

 - TO COME ABOUT:  Increase the angle formed by the bow and the wind, falling off downwind. The opposite of "Orzar" or "Ceñir". Arriving at port.

 - TO COME ALONGSIDE:  Approaching the entrance of a harbor, canal, or anchorage.

 - TO DISMAST:  The act of dismantling the mast or its loss or breakage due to accidental causes, such as the breakage of the windward shroud in strong winds.

 - TO DRIFT:  To deviate from the course due to the effect of the current.

 - TO EASE SAILS:  To untwist the strands of a rope or sail.

 - TO FURL:  Reduce the sail area exposed to the wind by taking reefs.

 - TO FURL SAILS:  Decrease the wind speed by one degree or more on the Beaufort scale. The opposite of "Arreciar" (to increase).

 - TO GAIN WINDWARD:  Sailing at an angle to the wind closer than a beam reach (90°), gaining distance toward the wind (windward). It ranges from 89° relative to the wind to close-hauled, sailing as close to the wind as possible (around 30°).

 - TO HEAVE DOWN:  Move a boat forward by rocking a single oar placed in the center of the stern from side to side.

 - TO HEAVE TO:  Way of sailing in a storm, lowering all the sails and letting the boat find its balance among the waves.

 - TO LUFF:  To sail close-hauled or on the wind, presenting the smallest possible angle to the wind. Also called "remontar" or "bordear" (to tack).

 - TO LUFF:  Maneuver to interfere with the wind reaching the sails of a competitor. To spill the wind from the sails, causing them to flutter.

 - TO LUFF UP:  Bring the clews of the sails to windward and hold them there to sail closer to the wind. Secure the sails by the tack.

 - TO MAKE WAY:  The speed at which the boat is moving.

 - TO MARK WITH BUOYS:  Action of placing buoys. Placing raised signals in a visible position on the coast or on a sandbank, whether illuminated or not, and made of different shapes and materials, used to indicate entrances or ports, shipwrecks, etc.

 - TO PECK:  To cut something with axe blows, such as masts, rigging, etc.

 - TO RELEASE:  To release, untangle, or separate ropes so that they are free from obstruction for maneuvering. Untie knots. A rope slipping from where it is fastened.

 - TO RIDE OUT A STORM:  It is the maneuver performed on a boat when it is not possible to heave to in the storm because the wind and waves push the boat backward. The stern is brought to the windward and a little reverse thrust is given. If necessary, a floating anchor is deployed or anything that opposes resistance to the progress is towed. If the vessel is under sail, all sails are secured and it runs "bare poles."

 - TO RIG MASTS:  To install masts on a vessel. The opposite of "Desarbolar" (to dismantle the masts).

 - TO ROW:  To row toward the bow. Action of propelling a boat with oars.

 - TO RUN:  Method of navigation in bad weather consisting of presenting the broadside to the sea with little or no sail. In the latter case, it is said to be running "bare poles."

 - TO RUN AGROUND:  Arrival of a ship, after navigation, to a known port. Approaching land to recognize it and mark the position.

 - TO RUN BEFORE THE WIND:  We sail with the wind coming from behind, directly astern. This course is also called a run.

 - TO SAIL CLOSE-HAULED:  A boat is said to be sailing "off the wind" when it receives the wind on its beam.

 - TO SAIL CLOSE-HAULED:  Sailing against the wind with the smallest possible angle. Equivalent to sailing close-hauled.

 - TO SAIL CLOSE-HAULED:  Expression referring exclusively to sailing. A boat sails "close-hauled" when its course forms the smallest possible angle with respect to the wind. We can easily verify if we are at the maximum angle of close-hauled. Simply by bearing away a little more, the sails will begin to luff. The maximum angle of close-hauled depends on the design of each sailboat but is hardly less than 30º.

 - TO SAIL CLOSE-HAULED:  A boat sails "beam reach" when it receives the wind approximately on its beam, forming an angle of about 90º with its longitudinal axis.

 - TO SAIL OFF COURSE:  Expression referring to sailing. Sailing with the wind on the bow, on a course more open than close-hauled but more closed than a beam reach.

 - TO SECURE:  Trimming the sheet of a sail to windward, to present surface area to the wind. This maneuver is often done to tack a sailboat without jibing.

 - TO SECURE WITH GASKETS:  Mooring system consisting of two lines that come out from the bow at an approximate angle of 40°.

 - TO SLACKEN:  Gradually release a rope. The opposite of "Cazar" (to haul in).

 - TO SPLICE:  To sew or knot two ropes together to join them.

 - TO TACK:  To decrease the angle between the boat's course and the wind, without heading up. Fall off. Close-hauled.

 - TO TACK:  Maneuver in which we change tack by crossing the direction of the wind.

 - TO TACK:  Action of changing the direction of a ship until its bow points into the wind.

 - TO THE WIND:  Align the rudder with the keel axis, so that the boat follows a straight course without any lateral deviation. The rudder is on the line when its plane coincides with the keel plane of the boat.

 - TO TIGHTEN:  To tighten ropes and chains, sails, awnings, etc.

 - TO TOW:  To tow a vessel from the shore using a rope.

 - TO TRIM:  To properly adjust the rigging and the shape of the sails according to the existing wind and sea conditions. In outboard motor boats, it is adjusted by varying the motor angle or the angle of the trim tabs in the case of inboard motor boats.

 - TO TRIM SAILS:  Coiling a rope, chain, or furled sail in loops.

 - TO TRIM SAILS:  Give forward motion to a boat by rowing from the bow.

 - TO UPRIGHT:  Straightening the boat when it is heeling.

 - TO VEER:  To change the wind direction. To turn in a circle.

 - TRIMMING:  To adjust the elements responsible for propelling the boat, whether it be the engine or the sails, to achieve the maximum utilization of propulsive force.

 - TROPIC:  Region of the Earth between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

 - TROPIC OF CANCER:  The Tropic of Cancer is one of the planet's parallels located in the Northern Hemisphere at a latitude of 23° 26' 17'' north of the equator.

 - TROPIC OF CAPRICORN:  The Tropic of Capricorn is a parallel in the Southern Hemisphere. It is located at a latitude of 23° 26' 17" south of the equator.

 - TURN:  Method of securing a rope to an object without forming an actual knot.

 - TWILIGHT:  The clarity that exists from dawn until the sun rises, and from when it sets until it is night.

 - UNDER BARE POLES:  Sailing in a sailboat with all sails furled. Without any sails on the masts.

 - UNDER BARE POLES:  Situation in which a sailboat does not have enough sail area for the existing wind strength at that moment.

 - UNENCUMBERED:  Name given to winds blowing from a quarter to a broad reach. It is also used to designate the wind that allows sailing directly without the need for tacking.

 - UPRIGHT:  The situation in which a boat is when its heel is zero, that is, it is not heeling.

 - VARIATION:  The Magnetic Declination (MD) is the angular difference in degrees between the geographic meridian and the magnetic meridian.

 - VENTILATION SHAFT:  Openings made in the deck to provide light and ventilation to the interior of the boat.

 - VOLTMETER:  Instrument used to measure the battery voltage level of the boat in units of voltage (Volts).

 - VOYAGE:  It is the distance traveled by the boat in 24 hours of navigation. Usually counted from noon to the next.

 - WASH:  Derived from the word "Forat," which means hole. Foradada is a place on the coast full of holes or caves, in other words, eroded or perforated.

 - WAYPOINT:  A waypoint is a set of coordinates that identify a specific point in physical terrestrial space. For maritime navigation, these coordinates are latitude and longitude.

 - WIND SEA:  Wave action resulting from the wind blowing over a stretch of sea. Its magnitude depends on the wind's strength, duration, and the distance it blows in the same direction (fetch).

 - YACHT SKIPPER:  Spanish qualification that authorizes the operation of motor or sail recreational vessels up to 24 meters in length and the right to navigate in the area between the coast and a parallel line drawn 150 miles from it.