Cowes Port Handbook 2014-2015 April 2014

COWES PORT HANDBOOK 2014 - 2015 Glossary ................ An introduction to some of the nautical terms used in the Cowes Port Handbook. Backstay - a wire support for the mast, usually running from the masthead to the stern of the boat Bar - a shallow patch extending across the mouth of a river or harbour Beacon - a rigid mark or post that is fixed into the sea bed Beaufort Wind Scale - defines wind strength in ‘forces’ and describes the effects of each force (eg. Force 3: gentle breeze, 7-10 knots, large wavelets with crests starting to break) Bow - the forward (front) part of a boat Buoy - floating mark used for navigation, mooring or racing Capsize - when a boat tips over past the point that the righting moment is lost Cardinal mark - a north, south, east, or west buoy or beacon used to indicate the safe side to pass a hazard such as a bank Chart datum - an arbitrary level from which heights of tide and charted depths are measured. Height of tide is measured above chart datum; charted depth is measured below chart datum Dry sailing - boats are ‘dry sailed’ when they are kept on shore instead of being left anchored or moored Ebb - a receding / falling tide Flood - an incoming / rising tide Height of tide - the height of the sea surface above chart datum High Water - the period of time when tidal waters have reached their highest mark before receding Knot - a unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour (1.0 kt = 1.15 mph) Lateral marks - red or green (or occasionally yellow) buoys or beacons used to indicate the edges of a well defined channel LOA - length overall, often abbreviated to LOA, is the maximum length of a vessel measured parallel to the waterline, including overhanging objects such as bowsprit, anchor, and tender davits Low Water - the period of time when tidal waters have reached their lowest level Nautical mile - 1,852 metres (at the equator), approximately 6,076 feet NAVTEX - (Navigational Telex) is an international automated medium frequency direct-printing service for delivery of navigational and meteorological warnings and forecasts, as well as urgent marine safety information to ships Neap tide - period in a month when the tidal range is smallest Port - the left-hand side of a boat when looking forwards PYS - the Portsmouth Yardstick Scheme (PYS) is a handicapping system for racing between different classes, whether dinghies, multihulls, or cruising yachts Sheet - a rope, attached to the movable corner(s) / clew of a sail or to a boom, which can be pulled in or eased to control the angle of a sail to the wind Spring tide - period in a month when the tidal range is greatest Starboard - the right-hand side of a boat when looking forwards Stern - the after (rear) part of a boat Tidal flows / streams - the horizontal movement of water associated with the rising and falling tide Tide - the rise and fall of sea level caused by astronomical factors such as the gravitational forces of the sun and the moon Tide tables - tables showing the predicted times and heights of tide Transit - two objects on the same bearing (ie. they appear to be in line with each other when viewed from a distance) 152 COWES.co.uk

Cowes Port Handbook 2014-2015 April 2014 | Page 152