aback: the wind is on the wrong side of the sails
abaft: at the rear or back of the yacht
abeam: at a right angle of the length of the yacht
abreast: side-by-side with the yacht
aft: toward the stern of the yacht
aground: the yacht’s bottom has scraped the ground in shallow water
amidships: at the center of the yacht
anchor locker: a locker used for storing the yacht’s anchor
astern: toward the stern (behind) of the yacht
autopilot: a device that automatically steers the yacht
BST: basic safety training
backstay: rope or cable used to support the mast on a sailing yacht
ballast: weights at the bottom of the yacht used for stability
bare boat: a sailing or motor yacht for hire without crew
beam: the widest part of the yacht
bearing: the direction a vessel or object appears to be heading in relation to the observer
berth: a place where the yacht is secured
bilge: the lowest part of the yacht where water collects
bilge pump: removes water from the bilge
Bimini: covers the cockpit and protects it from the sun
bosun: on a sailing yacht, the crew member responsible for keeping the sails and all of its related rigging and equipment in repair
bow: the front of the yacht
breaking seas: large waves with crests
bulwarks: the sides of the yacht above the upper deck
cabin: rooms on yachts where passengers and crew members sleep
captain only yacht charter: a sailing or motor yacht for hire with a captain as the only crew member
cast off: to detach the mooring lines
chine: the place on the yacht where the hull and the deck intersect
cook only yacht charter: a sailing or motor yacht for hire with a cook as the only crew member
chartering: renting a sailing or motor yacht by the week; renting a yacht for the day is simply called renting
cockpit: where the helm of the ship is located
course: the direction the yacht is traveling or planning to travel
crewed: a sailing or motor yacht for hire with a complete crew
daywork: term for a temporary worker on a yacht
deck: the areas surrounding each level of the yacht where people can stand, walk, or lounge
depth sounder: instrument used to determine how deep the water is an a specific location
dinghy or tender: a small boat attached to the yacht that is used for transporting people from the yacht to shore
dock: anyplace where the yacht can tie up to and be secured
draft: the depth of the yacht
dry dock: a location where the yacht is pulled out of the water; major maintenance or repairs are usually performed at a dry dock
fore, forward: toward the front of the yacht
fore and aft: from one end of the yacht to the other
forepeak: the storage unit on a yacht that is closest to the front of the vessel
founder: a yacht that is having difficulty staying afloat
GMDSS: global maritime and distress safety system
GT: gross tonnage
galley: the yacht’s kitchen
global positioning system: like GPSs used on land, these are used to help crew members stay on course
green water: water that washes aboard the yacht in one wall of water rather than spray
harbormaster: the person at each harbor who is in charge
head: the toilets onboard a yacht
heading: the course the yacht is traveling at a specific point in time
headseas: waves coming from the front of the yacht
heeling: when the yacht shifts away from the wind
helm: the wheel or tiller of the yacht, which is used for steering
helmsman: the crew member at the helm
high tide: a point of time in a day when the ocean is at its highest at a certain location
hull: the basic body of the yacht
IMO: International Maritime Organization
ISM: International Safety Management
iron sail: what some people call an engine on a sailboat
keel: a flat surface attached to the bottom of the yacht that helps keep it stabilized in the water and against the wind
knot: the rate of speed a yacht can travel; one knot equals one nautical mile per hour
lee: the direction the wind is blowing
lee side: the part of a ship most protected from the wind
life boat or life raft: small boat required to be attached to each yacht, it is used during emergencies
lines: ropes
list: a list describes the yacht leaning to one side or the other when it is not in operation
log: tracks all the miles the yacht has traveled
logbook: where the yacht’s log is kept
low tide: a point of time in a day when the ocean is at its lowest at a certain location
MARPOL: the international convention for the prevention of pollution by ships
MCA: Maritime and Coast Guard Agency of the United Kingdom
make fast: to attach a line to an object so that it does not move
marina: seaside location where ships and boats of all kinds can find fuel, provisions, and other needed services
master: person in charge of the yacht, usually the captain
mate: the captain’s assistant
nautical mile: equal to approximately 6,067 feet
navigation: the process of plotting the course of the yacht from its current position to its destination
navigator: the person responsible for navigating the yacht
offshore: located away from land
parallel: latitude line
passage: getting from one place to another via a boat
personal flotation device: an object used to keep someone afloat in the water in case of an emergency
poop deck: the deck closest to the yacht’s stern
prevailing winds: the winds that are common at a specific location
provisioning: food and beverages for the cruise
prow: the part of the brow at the forward part of the yacht, where it leaves the waterline
rail: the yacht deck’s edges
ride out: waiting for a storm to pass through, whether you are at sea or anchored
right: to return a yacht or boat to an upright position
roll: a side-to-side motion of the yacht, usually due to high waves or rough waters
STCW: Standards of training, certification, and watchkeeping developed by the IMO
SOLAS: Safety of Life at Sea
sea anchor: an anchor used to stop a yacht while at sea, usually in inclement or rough weather
seagoing: a vessel designed to endure ocean crossings
shove off: to push a boat away from another boat or a dock
squall: sudden, intense wind storm
starboard: the right side of the yacht
stern: the aft portion of the yacht
stow: put away
swell: large waves that don’t break
toe rail: small rail that surrounds the decks
transom: the aft side of the yacht’s hull
USCG: United States Coast Guard
underway: a yacht that has begun its journey
wake: waves created by other boats in the water
weigh anchor: a command given to bring up the anchor from the ocean floor in preparation of setting sail
wheelhouse: room on a yacht where the steering takes place
yacht charter broker: an agent that arranges charters
yacht broker: an agent that sells yachts
yaw: when a yacht or boat veers off-course, usually due to rough seas
As a member of CruiseJobFinder, we want to provide you with a one-stop-shop for all things yachting. However, we know that this is a complex industry and the more resources you can turn to, the better. Click on the link below to access a list of some magazines, websites, and other sources that you can use for even more information.