The Bosun´s Mate Glossary of Terms

Used on most GPS receivers and Chart plotters as the primary Heading reference - since GPS can only plot a position the calculated Heading it estimated based on changes over tile is a Course Over Ground.

Playing by climbing around in the Rigging. Especially when done as high as possible.  

When facing Forward, the Left side of the vessel

Said of the Anchor immediately when it is broken out of the ground.

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.

1) To Secure or bind something using Rope or twine.

Playing by climbing around in the Rigging. Especially when done as high as possible.  

To lay a sailing vessel into the wind with her Helm a-lee and her sails shortened and trimmed so that she will naturally come up into the wind and then Fall off again, thus making virtually no Headway.

A mechanically powered vessel will Heave-to by bringing her bows up into the sea and using just sufficient propulsion to Hold position.

The practise of heaving-to is to ensure the wind remains on the weather Bow in heavy seas and Hold the Ship in that position - where any vessel will ride mo...

A Vessel in motion, when not moored, at Anchor, or Aground. A vessel Adrift is not consdered Under-way.

1. A device designed to dig into the sea bed and keep the vessel from drifting
2. The act of using an Anchor.

The crew member currently responsible for steering the vessel.

Right side of the Ship when facing Forward.

Named as such after a contraction called a Steering Board, from ancient ships. This was a Rudder like contraption that was situated on the right side of the vessel (as the left or Port side of the vessel needed to be kept free for tieing up to the Dock)

A mooring Line fixed to the Bow or Stern of the vessel and leading to the opposing end where it is attached to the Dock. This prevents the Boat from moving Forward or Aft in its Berth.

A triangular fore-and-aft Sail without a Gaff or Yard, set on a Boom on the Aft side of a Mast.

Built at Bristol in 1797 this Ship of the British Royal Navy is famed for having the "the bloodiest mutiny that ever occured in a Ship of the Royal Navy"

Her Captain, Hugh Pigot was renouned as a tyrant, and was murdered along with 9 of his officers by the mutineers, who then sailed the Ship to Spain and handed her over to the Spainiards.

She was re-captured in October 1799 by the boats of HMS Surprise under Captain Sir Edward Hamilton who cut her out from Porto Gabello.

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

In Rope-making: A process in which fibers are drawn through hackle-boards in order to get them all lying straight prior to spinning into strands suring rope-making.

A system for clasifying wind strengths and sea conditions:

1 Light Air Or just sufficient to give steerage way.  
2 Light Breeze Or that in which a man-of-war with all Sail set, and clean full would go in smooth water from. 1 to 2 knots
3 Gentle Breeze 3 to 4 knots
4 Moderate Breeze 5 to 6 knots
5 Fresh Breeze Or that to which a well-conditioned man-of-war could just carry in chase, full and by. Royals.
6 Strong Breeze Single-reefed topsails and top-gal. Sail
7 Moderate Ga...