On a wooden vessel, the outermost deck plank covering the gunwale. also called Covering Board

The North Star; visible in the northern hemisphere and indicates the direction of north. In the southern hemisphere the Southern Cross is used to find the direction of south.

Froth of sea foam.

The opening between the jib and the mainsail. Wind passing through this opening increases the pressure difference across the sides of the mainsail, helping to move the boat forward.

Large ships dating back to the 17th century typically with three masts carrying rectangular sails mounted on horizontal spars called yards. A sailing-ship rig with rectangular sails set approximately at right angles to the keel line from horizontal yards.

Once the only method, other than human voice, of passing orders to men on board ship; the instructions to perform certain tasks were conveyed by different notes and pitches on the high-pitched whistle.

Railcars grouped in a train by destination so that segments (blocks) can be uncoupled and routed to different destinations as the train moves through various junctions. Eliminates the need to break up a train and sort individual railcars at each junction.

An official signature or seal affixed to certain documents by the consul of the country of destination.

The rod connecting the disc to the lever on a valve.

An anchor which has become entangled with some object on the bottom, or, on weighing, has it's rode or chain wound around its stock or flukes.

In sailboat racing, a tactical maneuver to lock in a competitor by tacking on them in close proximity so they can not tack from under your boat and they start to lose speed due to your sails blocking their sails.

The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit weight of a substance by one degree.

To ease away slowly, as in a line, sheet, or falls of a tackle.

The internal duct and filter medium support

elegant, luxurious. Originally an acronym for Port Over Starboard Home. Created by British travelers to India or Australia, describing the preferred accommodations aboard ship, which lessened effects of the tropical sun on the cabins during the voyage.

A sudden and violent gust of wind.

The mount and housing for the compass, usually located on the wheel's pedestal.

Abbreviation for "Bales."

To permanently join two pieces of rope. It will not pass through a block since it increases the diameter

A long sturdy pole fitted with a blunt hook at one end designed to catch a line when coming alongside a pier or mooring, to facilitate putting a line over a piling, recovering an object dropped overboard, or in pushing or fending off.