The Bosun´s Mate Glossary of Terms

The International Search And Rescue compitition held annually (and alternately) in the US and Canada where teams from the US and Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary compete in various SAR events.

ISAR was last held in 2005 and there is no plan to continue it in favour of more direct joint training between the USA and Canada.

To steer the Boat more into the wind, this could have the effect of causing the sails to flap or Luff.

1.The Compass Heading of the direction of Forward motion of the vessel.

2. The angle of the vessel relative to the wind when sailing.

3. The largest square Sail on a Mast (called the Course because when sailing with the wind the Heading will be impacted by how best to keep the Course Sail full)

The direction into/towards the wind

A disease historically common to seaman, caused by lack of Vitamin C the British Navy started to fight it bu adding lime juice to their water - this was the origin of the slan "Limey"

So named because it was the fastest way to join a broken yarn in a loom. Sailors use this Knot to tie two ropes of unequal thickness together, in whihc case it is know as the Sheet Bend.

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...

To stop the progress of a Dinghy by pushing on the handles of the oars (forcing water opposite to the normal direction for rowing)

A graduation of the surface of the earth measured north or south of the equator and expressed in degrees with the equator being 0° and the poles being 90°.

the Forward part of a boat´s main deck

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 ...

1. A man made structure projecting from, or along side the shore making up part of a Port or dockside, Alongside which vessels may tie-up.

2. A Breakwater protecting a Harbor entrance

The collection of all equipment used to Sail a bost, including sails, booms and gaffs, Lines and blocks.

Upper Aft corner of a Gaff Sail.

Two-masted vessel with both masts square rigged. On the aftermost Mast,  there is also a Gaff sail

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

A Navigation instrument used to measure the apparent height of a landmark whose actual height is known, such as the top of a lighthouse. From this information, the ship´s distance from that landmark can be calculated.

Gale force wind on the Beaufort Wind Scale