The Bosun´s Mate Glossary of Terms

Used as the primary reference in most GPS receivers and Chart Plotters to indicate velocity. Since GPS estimates speed as a change in position over time the Speed over Ground is the only speed that can be calculated. IE: moving through a Current the SOG is based on speed over the bottom not the relative speed of the vessel through the water.

To feed out Line, hand over hand - usually over the side of the vessel.

The direction of an object expressed as an agnle in degrees or Compass points from the vessel´s meridian, or , sometimes, from the direction of the Bow, Stern, or Beam.

An answer to the question "Where Away"

Up and above; up the Mast or in the rigging

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 Knot used to Secure one Rope to another object or to another Rope, or to form a loop or a noose in a Rope.

Hitches Fall into the general category of knots known as bends

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 vessel is said to be Nipped or beset when caught between ice-flows in Antarctic or Arctic waters.

A sailboat with its Bow pointed directly into the wind, preventing the sails from filling properly so that the Boat can move.

A black ball visible in all directions displayed in the Forward rig of a vessel at Anchor during the day.

Also Boatswain, bos´n, bo´s´n, and bo´sun, all of which are pronounced Bosun. A crew member responsible for keeping the Hull, Rigging and sails in good repair.

A storage compartment Below decks in the Stern of a vessel.

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

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

A type of broad shallow open or partly decked center-board sailing vessel which originated around the 1850. They carried tremendous Sail area for their size.

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

An older name for a Messenger used to assist in weighing the Anchor.

Gale force wind on the Beaufort Wind Scale