The Bosun´s Mate Glossary of Terms

Shorthand Acronym for a GPS equipped EPIRB

A disturbed column of water around and behind a pleasure craft as it makes its way through the water. It includes both the charastic "V" shaped wave pattern and the turbulent wated thrown Back by the propellers.

A detailed look: http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/jul2001/994688283.Ph.r.html

The direction away from the wind.

1) A Rope ladder attached to the after side of a topgallant Mast in place of ratlines.

2) A way to describe the cracks and splits in a defective single-tree Spar.

3) A Rope ladder attached to the lower Boom of a Ship at Anchor to which the ships´ boats are made Fast.

A favorite dish for the crew of tall ships. It could consist of almost anything, but the propper dish consisted of layers of meat, vegetables, and fish alternating with crusts of bread and/or broken biscuit - affectionately referred to as a Two or Three decker based on the number of layers.

A quick release Knot used primairly for furling sails. Similar to the Sheet Bend, but finished by passing a Bight rather then the free end when finishing the Knot.

Many ships would have a supply of short Lines already having a Bight spliced in one end to used for creating Sail ties.

A british naval song wirtten by David Garrick that starts:

´Come cheer up, my lads, ´tis to glory we steer,
To add something more to this wonderful year´

Set to music by Willian Boyce in 1759 and commerating that same year "the year of vistories" or "the wonderful year" as the song proclaims. This is based on the victories at Lagos, Quiberon Bay, and the capture of Quebec - which all occured in that year during the seven years war 1756-63.

It was later a traditional...

A method of running before the wind with two sails set. Usually the Mainsail on one side and the Fore or headsail on the other, or one headsail on each side.

- Incidentally the SALTS logo consists of a Schooner running Wing and Wing

Unintentional movement due to wind or Current.

A disturbed column of water around and behind a pleasure craft as it makes its way through the water. It includes both the charastic "V" shaped wave pattern and the turbulent wated thrown Back by the propellers.

A detailed look: http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/jul2001/994688283.Ph.r.html

A somewhat dirogatory term from the British navy that describes a post-captain that has been promoted to admiral on retirement such that they never served at that rank.

Before 1864 the British fleet was divided into Red, White, and Blue squadrons, with the admirals taking their rank from their squadronal colour. Blue being junior to white which was in turn junior to red.

A Yellow Admiral, therefore did not fit and thus had no real rank at all.

After the Napoleonic War (1803-1815) there ...

With the straightforward meaning of being in a troublesome spot, the interesting thing is the origin of this expression.

The deep blue sea part is obvious - but in this case the "devil" is not the scary guy with horns but the Hull plank closest to the waterline where barnacles and marine growth gather the heaviest.

The crew on long voyages would always spend time maintaining the Ship and scraping the growth off this area was one of the nastiest of jobs.

Both due to the fact t...

A splice to create a loop in the end of a Line, by braiding the end into itself.

Pockets in a Sail where battens can be placed to stiffen the Sail.

A type of Hull shaped to glide easily across the top of the water at high speed.

1. The tallest Mast of the Ship, on a Schooner, the Mast furthest Aft.

An instrument for measuring the strength (speed) of the wind

A warm inshore Current annually flowing south along the coast of Ecuador. About every seven to ten years it extends down the coast of Peru, where it has a devastating effect in that region and is oftin the cause of unusual weather patterns around the entire eastern Pacific Rim.