Motor Cruising Terms

[Club Admin]

Motor Yacht: Usually over 10m in length, with overnight accomodation and cooking facilities.  Courses to skipper these boats are the RYA Motor Cruising courses.  Club Sail's courses are tidal due to their position in the sunshine of the Canary Islands.
Powerboat: Usually under 10m in length.  Often referred to as a RIB.  Courses to skipper these boats are the RYA Powerboat Training courses.
Rudder: A spade-like object at the back of the boat that steers the boat by deflection of the water.
Helm: The wheel that controls the direction the rudder is pointing.
Keel: The weighted fin at the bottom of the boat that keeps the boat from slipping sideways through the water.  It also helps to keep the boat upright.
Fender: often made of plastic they contain air and are used to keep the yacht away from the pontoon or other boats.  It is usually tied onto the guard rail with either a clove hitch or round turn and two half hitches.
Bow: Front end of the boat.
Stanchions: Vertical posts that hold guardrails in place.
Pulpit: Safety rail at the bow of the boat.
Stern: Back end of the boat.
Port: The left side of the boat when facing forward.
Starboard: The right side of the boat when facing forward.
Jackstay: Used to clip onto when going to the bow.
True Wind: The wind speed and direction as seen by a stationary observer.
Apparent Wind: The wind speed and direction as seen by an observer who is moving across the water.
Header: Change in wind direction towards the bow of the boat.
Lift: Change in wind direction towards the stern of the boat. A header for a boat on port tack is a lift for a boat on starboard tack.
Beam: The widest section of a boat, generally across the middle.
Abeam: The direction to either side of the boat. (90 degrees from the bow)
Underway: When the boat is neither at anchor, made fast or aground.
No Way: When the boat is stopped.