A large foresail or jib that overlaps the mainsail. Also known as a genny. Can be expressed in percentages of overlap, e.g. 150 Genoa is 50% overlap of the mainsail.

A barge equipped with tracks on which up to about 12 railroad cars are moved in harbors or inland waterways.

To let out a line or sail slowly; to slacken or relieve tension on a line; to take pressure off.

A hand held pneumatic tool. Designed for light demolition work, digging, making holes etc.

An enterprise in which there is a risk of loss.

A line led to a sail, but is not currently in use. The line currently in use is known as the working sheet. Usually the working and lazy sheets change when the boat is tacked.

Slang for getting married. A splice joins two lines together permanently.

A law of chemistry and physics: the rate of diffusion of one substance in another is proportional to the negative gradient of the concentration of the first substance.

Finite Element Analysis.

To windward, in the direction of the eye of the wind; toward the wind; in the direction from which the wind is coming

A spar used to prevent the spinnaker guy from fouling on the stanchions.

The Captain of a vessel. Highest officer aboard ship. Oversees all ship operations. Keeps ships records. Handles accounting and bookkeeping. Takes command of vessel in inclement weather and in crowded or narrow waters. Handles communications.

A vessel discharges part of its cargo at anchor into a lighter to reduce the vessel's draft so it can then get alongside a pier.

Uncharted navigational danger that has been reported but has not been verified by survey.

Ropes hung and used for assistance in ascending and descending.

A boat is double banked, when two oars, one opposite the other, are pulled by men seated on the same thwart.

A sailing ship with three to five masts, all of them square-rigged except the after mast, which is fore-and-aft rigged.

Costs that vary directly with the level of activity within a short time. Examples include costs of moving cargo inland on trains or trucks, stevedoring in some ports, and short-term equipment leases. For business analysis, all costs are either defined as ...

Distance at sea is measured in nautical miles, which are about 6067.12 feet, 1.15 statute miles or exactly 1852 meters. Nautical miles have the unique property that a minute of latitude is equal to one nautical mile - Measurement of speed is done in knots ...

A machine employing two or more stages.