yachting time meaning

Decoding Hollywood's Disturbing "Yachting" Culture Beneath the Glamour

Published Dec. 19 2023, 10:41 p.m. ET

We explore the hidden meaning of "yachting" in Hollywood: individuals, often women, get paid large sums to spend time with wealthy individuals for career advancement.

Individuals may face uncomfortable situations, including sexual assault, trading dignity for fame, and money in a corrupt industry.

Prominent figures like Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Kylie and Kendall Jenner, Nina Dobrev, Hailey Bieber, and Emily Ratajkowski have all been linked anecdotally to Nonsense Pudding .

Thanks to influencers like Deux Moi , normies are finally getting a peek into the life of the rich and famous. And while pictures aboard yachts surrounded by luxury may look glamorous to all of us, it isn't necessarily all that it’s cracked up to be. Stories have been coming out for decades about people, often women, who subject themselves to “yachting.”

We may associate yachting with rich guys sailing in races, but it actually has a much darker meaning in Hollywood . It’s often considered Hollywood’s oldest “open secret,” but what actually is “yachting”? Keep reading for all of the details.

In Hollywood, "yachting" is the practice of getting paid large sums of money to spend time with wealthy people.

At its most innocent, “yachting” is a PR opportunity for an up-and-coming actor or model. However, it’s often much more sinister. Basically, typically women on their way up in the industry may get paid a large sum of money — five, six, or even seven figures — to spend time with wealthy men. The benefit for the women is the money, the photo ops of luxury, and a potential opportunity to meet someone who could give them a leg up in the industry.

However, they often aren’t told what strings are attached before agreeing to “yacht” with someone. Many of these excursions often lead to sex and other forms of assault. Although the women tend to be up and coming celebs and influencers, they are essentially selling their body for the entirety of their time on the yacht. It gives “the implication” a whole new meaning.

“Yachting” is a common and known practice in Hollywood, but it could also be considered prostitution.

In 2007, businessman Elie Nahas was convicted of running a prostitution ring at the Cannes Film Festival. He claimed that he was only responsible for getting women to Cannes and had nothing to do with what happened after, but even if he did, there are hundreds of other men doing the same thing.

Many of us see pictures of celebrities on yachts and luxury vacations and think, "Wow, imagine living that life!" But in reality, they're being paid to spend time with someone they may not like just because it could further their career. But in doing so, many give up their bodies.

In fact, one Redditor wrote : “You are essentially being bought for a certain period of time. Hence why people get drugged, raped, fondled, sleep with men older than their fathers, pissed and shat on. Once everything is said and done, the trauma and memories of doing those things stay with you forever. Your dignity is being leveraged for fame and money. Let’s not forget a lot of these encounters are filmed and can easily be used to blackmail these young stars.”

It’s an example of powerful men taking advantage of young women with dreams of succeeding in an already corrupt industry. But the practice is so common that stories have circulated about Selena Gomez , Ariana Grande, Kylie and Kendall Jenner , Nina Dobrev, Hailey Bieber, and many other big stars.

@al.laure1209 Best way to fill the pool 🛥 #yacht #yachtlife #yachtdesign #boat #boating #luxuryyacht #sailing #superyacht #topyacht #yachtinglife #yachtingworld #yachting #yachtlifestyle #yachtcrew #cannes #cannesyachtingfestival ♬ original sound - Alex

Emily Ratajkowski also talks about it in her memoir, My Body . She explains how she was paid $25,000 early on in her career just to accompany Jho Low to the Super Bowl, without understanding what she was expected to do. So while the idea of riding around on a luxury yacht might sound ideal, many paths there aren’t as great.

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Celebrities Accused Of 'Yachting' In Hollywood — And What Being A 'Yacht Girl' Really Means

Rumors suggest some women are paid to play..

• Micki Spollen

Written on Jan 11, 2022

It’s easy to be envious when seeing the Instagram photos of young, carefree celebrity women seemingly having the time of their lives on yachts floating in exotic waters and in the VIP sections of the most exclusive clubs.

However, rumor has it there is much more than meets the eye when it comes to these ‘yacht girls’ and their extravagant lifestyles.

What is a yacht girl?

According to Urban Dictionary , a yacht girl is “an attractive young woman who finds ways to get access to luxurious surroundings by being available to wealthy men.”

For example, you may follow a woman or two on Instagram who always seems to be partying or vacationing somewhere expensive (notably without ever showing who she’s actually with). This is a person you could potentially describe as being a yacht girl.

And it’s not just those Instagram models and wannabe stars that are considered yacht girls. As you work up the wealth chain, you may be surprised to recognize some celebrity names synonymous with yachting.

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What is 'yachting' in Hollywood?

In Hollywood, the term yacht girl essentially means a woman who works as an escort for high-end clientele , not just on yachts but for any social event.

While the practice has only somewhat recently gained mainstream notoriety, if you think back on the many tabloid photos of models and actresses on yachts from years past, it appears to be something that's gone on in Hollywood “for 60 years,” according to Elie Nahas, who ran a Beirut-based modeling agency before being arrested on charges of running a prostitution ring in 2007.

In 2013, "The Hollywood Reporter" ran a feature describing this so-called yachting during the Cannes Film Festival.

“Every year during the festival there are 30 or 40 luxury yachts in the bay at Cannes, and every boat belongs to a very rich person. Every boat has about 10 girls on it; they are usually models, and they are usually nude or half nude,” Nahas told THR.

At the end of the night, each woman would receive a “gift,” a generous amount of money that the client would put in an envelope for her.

And while many of these women were self-proclaimed local prostitutes and escorts, the Cannes Film Festival is, of course, known for its celebrity attendees — and it’s rumored that celebrity women trying to fast-track a name for themselves in Hollywood become yacht girls, too.

“Women installed on yachts in Cannes during the film festival are called ‘yacht girls,’ and the line between professional prostitutes and B- or C-list Hollywood actresses and models who accept payment for sex with rich older men is sometimes very blurred, explains one film industry veteran,” Dana Kennedy wrote for THR.

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Some women in Hollywood have accused their celebrity peers of being yacht girls.

A 2017 blind item (celebrity gossip that doesn’t outwardly name the celebrity) allegedly written by a struggling actress describes being lured by another actress into the world of yachting :

“The actress I was talking to made it sound super easy and that she only had [sex] a few times with guys while yachting and that it was mostly partying and being arm candy,” she writes, explaining that eventually she agreed to try it for $25,000 upfront, but admitting that the experience was less than glamorous.

Blind item readers guessed that Canadian actress Vanessa Lengies wrote the blind item and further surmised that it may be one of the Glee actresses Naya Rivera or Heather Morris that introduced her to yachting. None of these claims have ever been substantiated.

If you believe the rumors, it would seem that yachting is a rite of passage for women hoping to “make it” in Hollywood, and even some celebrities we now consider A-List are thought to be former yacht girls.

In an excerpt from her 2021 memoir , “My Body,” Emily Ratajkowski details being paid $25,000 at the start of her career to go to the Superbowl with now-disgraced Malaysian financier Jho Low, who "‘just liked to have famous men and women around,’” she explains her manager told her at the time.

She writes about attending the star-studded Coachella on someone else’s dime, having drinks paid for at clubs, and attending afterparties with Oscar-winning actors before actually becoming a celebrity herself.

One could infer from this recollection that, in order to be able to tell these stories, Ratajkowski was herself a yacht girl. “My Body” suggests as much, and in it, she subtly gives away the identity of another celebrity woman who yachted alongside her.

Ratajkowski describes watching as Low gave shots to a Victoria’s Secret model. While she doesn’t name drop, Ratajkowski gives just enough information for readers to figure who that model likely was.

“Now she kept her eyes locked on him as he took his shot, throwing her head back dramatically as he did, only to quickly toss the alcohol over her shoulder,” Ratajkowski writes. “When he faced her again, her eyes sparkled and the famous dimples appeared on her cheeks.”

Low has since become a fugitive wanted for allegedly running an international money laundering scheme, and in 2017, Reuters reported that model Miranda Kerr — known for her dimples — was being ordered to return “diamond pendants, earrings and other jewelry worth about $8 million” that Low allegedly gifted her to government agents.

In 2017, Ratajkowski also posted a video on Instagram potentially outing Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber as yacht girls as they danced aboard a yacht during that year’s Cannes Film Festival.

          View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata)

Many people have also accused Meghan Markle of yachting (but then again, what haven't people accused Markle of at this point).

People have pointed to an old photo of Markle on a yacht as proof that she’s a former yacht girl.

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Another old blind item also suggested the former actress was available to “rent.”

"If you see B actress post scantily clad photos of themselves on Social Media, this is often a Comm to [them] that this person is available to ‘rent’ for a weekend of ‘yachting,’” the tweet says, including a photo of Markle in a swimsuit.

"If you see B actress post scantily clad photos of themselves on Social Media, this is often a Comm to [them] that this person is available to “rent” for a weekend of “yachting”. Typically worth $30K for the “party” - Meghan Markle @3Days3Nights https://t.co/E3WfMjnVL9 pic.twitter.com/QFv476GL0b — yacht girl (@yachtgirlmm) November 27, 2019

Markle’s close friendship pre-Harry with actress Priyanka Chopra has naturally led some to guess that Chopra once yachted as well.

Another actress that faces endless rumors of yachting is Russian actress Irina Shayk , which according to THR, is par for the course as the outlet writes that yachting your way to stardom happens with “disturbing frequency,” particularly when it comes to foreign-born actresses.

According to THR, who claims to know “of at least one now-prominent actress who made her first connections on a Cannes yacht and quickly landed her debut role in a U.S.-shot movie,” such as with Shayk’s 2014 film “Hercules,” it’s “a red flag any time you see a foreign-born actress with no credits suddenly make her way into a U.S.-shot movie.”

Of course, when it comes to yachting in Hollywood, all of these claims appear to be unfounded.

These rumors make for good gossip, whether you’re talking about low-level social media influencers or high-profile celebrity actresses.

However, nothing is proven, leaving us to wonder any time we see a photo of women on a yacht.

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Micki Spollen is an editor, writer, and traveler focused on relationships, news, and pop culture. Follow her on Instagram .

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“Yachting” is about more than being paid to party, it’s Hollywood’s murkiest open secret

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Definition of yachting

Examples of yachting in a sentence.

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'yachting.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

1836, in the meaning defined above

Dictionary Entries Near yachting

Cite this entry.

“Yachting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yachting. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.

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Kids definition of yachting, more from merriam-webster on yachting.

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How Many of these Yachtie Terms Do You Use?

Pre-galley, Nina Wilson trained as a dive instructor and skippered sailing boats in Greece before starting her yachting career in 2013. Currently head chef on a 55-meter, her talents included telling brilliant jokes and being able to consume six cheeseburgers and feel no guilt. Follow her on Instagram @thecrewchef .

You would be forgiven for scratching your head once or twice upon hearing the jibber-jabber yachties like to toss around. Henceforth, I present a translation sheet — feel free to forward to your land-based family and friends so they can start studying for your triumphant return.

“Well, my owner is worth 6 billion and only eats albino caviar.”

Yes, we frequently refer to the owner of the vessel as our owner. Try not to think too much about the psychology behind this. (Do we truly believe we are slaves? Slaves don’t get free shampoo…right?)

“I’m going to go down for a few hours,” OR “Where’s Tommo?” “He’s gone down. ”

Alas, get your heads out of the gutter. Simply, going down below, down to their cabin, to put their head down and get some down time.

“Sorry, can’t do beers tonight, I’m boss on. ”

Boss is on board, all fun is cancelled.

“Make sure you candle-ise the boat at sunset.”

This is not even a real word. It’s a made-up word by some over-rose’d chief stewardess to describe the process of decorating the boat with candles. (Before you question me, I have heard it used on multiple vessels ranging from 55 meters to 80 meters. FACT.)

“We’ll do the vac-dust on Thursday.”

Dusting, but with a vacuum. We have evolved from just wiping the dust around with a cloth, we hoover it out of existence with a high powered piece of Miele engineering. Genius.

“Friday is wash down day.”

Washing the boat, but only from the top down. And in-to-out (or vice versa depending on your Chief Officer’s method).

“Please fill in your HORS today.”

Pronounced like ‘whores’ and stands for Hours of Rest, not any particular red light district inhabitant.

“I can’t make it, I’m on watch. ”

Basically, the boat is a vulnerable, delicate child and you are the babysitter for a 24-hour period. Don’t let the baby burn, sink, or get stolen.

“ Now, now ”

A South African import. Sometime between now, before, and later — I’m afraid nobody born outside the continent of Africa truly knows.

“ On My Last Boat ”

A precursor to a long-winded story about how their last boat was infinitely better, had unlimited crew champagne and razor blades, and how everything was done differently (but better).

“Damn, it’s gonna be WAF today.”

No, unfortunately not Wives and Friends day. It’s gonna blowing its tits off, be proper gusty, OR say it how you mean it and use Windy As F***.

“Have you pulled for dinner?”

This one means gathering all the crockery/cutlery, etc. for service, essentially pulling knives and forks out of drawers, so…yes, I guess this one makes sense.

“ Dog Box ”

A terrible, tiny cabin that the MLC have not been informed of and that all junior deckhands inhabit. Get a UV light in there and it looks like a Jackson Pollock painting.

“ It’ll buff out. ”

Usually said after a significant blunder (say, driving the tender into the swim platform bow-first) causing significant damage, and taking a significant amount of time, effort, and money to fix.

“ CV sent ”

Believe it or not, jobs do sometimes get posted on those yachtie Facebook groups — however, if you apply it’s mandatory to comment that you have sent your CV so as to ‘double tap’ the poster’s attention. If you don’t comment, you won’t get the job, FACT.

“Tomorrow is pick up day. ”

We’re collecting the guests, prepare to service everyone’s needs but your own for the next 7/10/59 days.

“ Do it for the tip. ”

Poo in the Jacuzzi? Scoop it out. Guests want sushi at 1 a.m.? Put the rice on. Everyone has their price, and we WILL do what it takes to get that fat envelope at the end of the charter. Let’s say it together now…FOR THE TIP!

“Tomorrow is drop off day. ”

We boot these rich cats off in less than 24 hours, ice those beers STAT. Got any powdered charcoal? Get it on standby.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but hopefully a good inroad into the twisted bedsheets of yachting vernacular.

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How to sail: A-Z of Yachting Terms

When learning how to sail have you ever wondered when you are on a yacht what some of those yachting terms mean, we have asked our RYA Training Centre pupils which ones confuse the most. Here are a selection, which includes the obvious to the more obscure!

A baft: A location on the boat but further to the rear of the boat. “The tiller is abaft the mast.”

A beam: The beam is the widest part of the boat. When another boat is abeam, it is at a right angle off the beam to either the starboard or port side of the boat you are on.

A ft: When on a boat you refer to the stern part of the boat as being aft or to the rear of the boat.

A head: A term used to describe the area in front of the boat you are on. “Look ahead.”

A ids to Navigation: This includes all external systems like channel markers, preferred route buoys, danger and safe water buoys, isolated danger and regulatory markers etc. that help determine a boats position or course, the presence of dangers or obstructions and the preferred route to navigate.

A midships: In the middle of the boat between the stern and the bow.

A pparent Wind: The apparent wind is a combination of the true wind and the wind caused by the boat travelling through the water. On an windex, the apparent wind will cause the windex to show wind direction just in front of the true wind.

A stern: A location off the boat and behind it.

B ulkhead – Refers to an often watertight, interior wall on the boat

Backing Wind: Refers to the wind shifting direction in a counter-clockwise direction. This usually means that bad weather is approaching.

Backstay: A wire running from the top of the mast to the stern of the boat. The backstay stops the mast from falling forward and also helps to control the degree of mast bend when tuning a boat.

Battens: Wood, fiberglass or plastic strips slid into pockets along the leech of the sail. Battens help to shape and strengthen the sail to increase overall performance.

Beam: The widest part of the boat.

Beam Reaching: One of the points of sail. You are ‘beam reaching’ when sailing directly sideways to the wind on either a port or starboard tack. Think of a clock face – if the wind is blowing from 12 o’clock, sailing at between 3 o’clock or 9 o’clock would be a beam reach.

Bearing Away: Turning away from the wind or turning downwind.

Beating: Sailing towards the wind by tacking back and forth across the wind.

Belayed: Secured, tied to, made fast to.

Bend On: To secure one thing to another. Tieing two lines together.

Bifurcation: A channel junction (two channels meeting) usually marked by a ‘bifurcation buoy’ indicating the perferred channel to follow.

Bight: A loop or bend in a line.

Bilge: The lowest inner part of a boats hull.

Bitter End: The utmost free end of a line. (The other end is referred to as the ‘Standing Line’).

Boat Wind: The wind created by the boat moving through the water. The true wind and the boat wind combine to create the apparent wind direction.

Boat Fall: Rigging used to raise or lower a ship’s boat.

Boat Painter: Rope tied to the front end of a boat used to either tow a boat or to secure it to a dock.

Bollard: Wooden or iron post on a pier to which the boat is secured.

Boom: The boom is the pole running aft from the mast to which (among other things) the foot of the mainsail is attached.

Bowline: A very strong and yet easy to untie knot that creates a loop in the end of a line.

Breastlines: Mooring lines that run from the bow and the stern at right angles to the dock to stop the boat from drifting out from the dock.

Broad Reach: One of the points of sail. Sailing downwind off to the port or starboard side. Think of a clock face – if the wind is blowing from 12 o’clock, sailing at between 4-5 o’clock or between 7-8 o’clock would be a broad reach.

By the Lee: Sailing downwind with the mainsail remaining on the same side of the boat that the wind is hitting. If you are sailing downwind on a port tack, typically the mainsail would be off the starboard side of the boat. When sailing ‘by the lee’, the mainsail in the same situation would remain on the port side of the boat out at a 90 degree angle to the boat.

C lew – The lower aft corner of a sail

Cabin: The below deck living quarters.

Cable: Measurement of distance equal to 0.1 nautical mile.

Cam cleat: A fitting through which a line is run through. The cam cleat consists of two cams that wedge against the line stopping it from being pulled out.

Cardinal Aids to Navigation: Buoys with indicate the location of hazards, safe water or deep water by reference to the four cardinal points of a compass (North, South, East, West).(See our section on buoys for a more complete explanation.)

Catboat: A boat with one mast flying no foresail (jib).

Cast Off: To release the lines allowing the boat to leave it’s mooring.

Chainplates: Very strong metal plates affixed to the hull to which the forestay, backstay and shrouds are attached.

Chart Datum: For navigational safety, depths on a chart are shown from a low-water surface or a low-water datum called chart datum. Chart datum is selected so that the water level will seldom fall below it and only rarely will there be less depth available than what is portrayed on the chart

Chock: a metal fitting, either oval or U-shaped, through which mooring lines are passed. Chocks help reduce abrasion saving the lines from excessive wear and tear.

Cleat: A small, metal deck fitting with horns used for securing lines (belaying).

Clew: The lower rear corner of a sail.

Close Reach: Point of sail – sailing against the wind at an angle somewhere between a Beam Reach and Close Hauled. Think of a clock face – if the wind is blowing from 12 o’clock, sailing at 2 o’clock or 10 o’clock would be a close reach.

Close Hauled: Point of sail – sailng as close to the wind (sharp angle to the wind) as possible without the sailings luffing (fluttering).

Cockpit: The open inset area from where the boat is steered.

Companionway: Stairs or ladder on a boat usually leading down to the cabin.

Cringles: Open metal rings inserted into the sail (also called grommets) used as reefing points for a sail but also found at the clew, head and tack of the sail to attach halyards, lines, outhauls etc.

Cunningham: A line used to adjust the forward edge of the mainsail. Usually runs from the tack of the sail to the front area of the boom.

Current: The horizontal flow of water. (Tide is the vertical flow of water.)

Cutter: A cutter has one mast but sails with two foresails.

D raft – This describes the depth of a boat measured from the deepest point to the waterline

Davit: A crane onboard that can be swung out over the side for hoisting or lowering boats.

Dead Reckoning: Navigational term – method used to plot the course already travelled by measuring speed and time to calculate distance.

Deep Six: A slang term meaning to discard something over the side of the boat.

Degree: A distance of measurement on a nautical chart. One degree equals 60 nautical miles. Each degree is broken down into 60 minute intervals. One minute of one degree equals 1 nautical mile.

Deviation: A ship’s magnetic compass reading can be affected by metal objects on the boat (electronic equipment etc). The difference between the correct magnetic reading and the ships compass magnetic reading is called deviation. Deviation will vary depending on the direction of the boat.

Dog: A metal fitting used to secure watertight doors, hatch covers and scuttles.

Downhaul: A line attached to the tack of the sail and used to pull down or tighten the mainsail to increase sale efficiency.

E ase: To let out or ‘ease off’ a line.

E nsign – The national flag of the boats home country

F Fairleads: A metal fitting through which lines are run to in order to change the direction of the lines while reducing friction on the lines.

Fairway: Sailing on inland waters, fairway means an open channel or being in midchannel.

Fast: To make fast. To secure (snugly tie) a line to something.

Fathoms: A unit of measurement. One fathon equals 6 feet.

Fenders: Cylindrical air filled plastic or rubber bumpers hung off the side of a boat or dock to prevent damage to both dock and boat.

Fetch: The distance over open water the wind has blown.

Faked: A line is faked by zig zagging it back and forth so that when it is used it will not tangle on itself.

Flaked:A sail is flaked when lowered. Flaking a sail is the process of folding the sail back and forth upon itself like the blades on a paper fan. Flaking a sail will help prolong the sail life.

Foot (Sail): The foot of a sail is the lower part of the sail. In the case of a mainsail, this is the part of the sail that runs along the boom.

F orepeak- The cabin most forward in the bow of the boat

Forestay: The forestay is a wire that runs from the top of the mast (or near the top of the mast) to the bow of the boat. The forestay supports the mast from falling backwards and is also used in shaping the bend in the mast for maximum efficiency. The luff (front) of the foresails (jib, genoa) are also generally attached to the forestay depending on the rigging system.

Forward: When on a boat, forward means towards the bow. “Move forward” – move towards the front of the boat.

Galley: The boat’s kitchen.

Genoa: The Genoa is a foresail that is larger than a jib. The clew (lower corner at the foot of the sail) extends aft of the mast unlike a jib.

Give-way Boat: Navigational rules – the boat not having the right-of-way. The Give-way boat must stay clear of the Stand-on boat. The Give-way boat must make it’s intentions known by making a decisive maneuver to alert the Stand-on boat.

Gooseneck: This is a metal fitting that attaches the boom to the mast.

G oosewinging – To sail downwind with the mainsail set on one side and the foresail on the other

Gybing: Sailing down wind and turning through the wind causing the sails to move from one side of the boat to the other.

Gybe ho: Term used by the helmsman to let his crew know that he has started to turn the boat into a gybe.

H alyard – A line which is used to raise things on a boat, so the main halyard line would be used to raise the mainsail

Halyards: Lines used to lower and raise sails.

Hanks: Clips found along the luff (front) of the foresail used to clip the sail onto the forestay (wire running from the bow to the top or near the top of the mast).

Hard over: Turning the wheel or pushing the tiller all the way over.

Head: Generally used to refer to the boat’s toilet. When talking about a sail, the Head is the top of the sail.

Head to Wind: The bow of the boat is pointed directly into the wind.

Heading up: Turning up more into the wind.

Heaving to: A way to, in effect, stall a sailboat by backing the jib, easing out the mainsail and turning the rudder hard into the wind. The forward wind pressure on the foresail wants to force the bow downwind. The rudder turned towards the wind wants to force the bow windward. These two counter effects balance each other causing the boat to hold it’s position with little movement. The mainsail is eased out all the way so that it does not catch any wind and therefore has no bearing on the boats postion.

Heeling: Leaning or heeling over caused by wind pressure on the sails.

Helm: The Helm is the steering mechanism of the boat (wheel or tiller). The person at the helm is called the helmsman.

Helms Alee: A term used by the helmsman to notify the crew that he has started to tack. Hypothermia: A dangerous condition where the body core temperature has been lowered causing extreme shivering, loss of co-ordination, in ability to make decisions and in extreme cases, loss of conciousness and even death.

I nlet – A recess, such as a cove or bay, along a coastline

In Irons: This occurs where the boat has been turned directly into the wind and has lost all forward momentum. Without forward momentum the boat loses it’s ability to steer.

J ackstay – A strong line, that can be made of wire, which runs fore and aft alongside the boat that can be used to attach your safety harness to.

Jacob’s ladder: A light ladder made of rope or chain with metal or wooden rungs used over the side or aloft.

Jib: The jib is a foresail (smaller than a genoa). The jib is about the same size as the triangular area between the forestay, mast and foredeck.

Jiffy reefing: This is a way to make the mainsail smaller by partially lowering it, tying or reefing the lower slack part of the sail onto the boom through gromets (holes in the sail) called reefing points. This is done in high wind conditions to power down the sail.

Jury rig: Makeshift – adapting parts and materials for a use not specifically designed for in order to get by until proper parts or repairs can be obtained.

K etch – A sailboat with 2 masts

Kedging: A method used to free a grounded boat by dropping it’s anchor in deeper water and then pulling on the anchor rode to attempt to free the boat.

Keel: The large heavily weighted fin like structure secured to the bottom of the boat. The keel helps to keep the boat upright and also reduces leeway (side slipping across the wind).

Ketch: A two masted boat. The second and smaller mast (mizzen) is positioned just forward of the rudder post.

Knot: Rate of speed. On land it is miles per hour, on the water it is knots (nautical miles) per hours. One knot equals 1.15 land miles – so one knot is just a bit faster than one mph.

L eeway – The sideways movement of a boat caused by wind and currents

Lateral Aids to Navigation: channel buoys (Red & Green), isolated danger buoys (Black & Red), safe water ahead (Red & White), regulatory buoys (Yellow), bifurcation buoys (Black & Yellow) plus channel identification markers and navigation markers are all considered Laterial Aids to Navigation.

Lazarette: A storage compartment, usually under the seats of the cockpit.

Lee Helm: Also called Weather Helm, this is the tendancy of the boat to turn into the wind once it has heeled over at a sharp angle.

Lee Shore: Feared by most sailors, this is the downwind shore from the boat.

Leech: The rear edge of the foresail or the mainsail running from the head (top) to the clew (rear corner) of the sail.

Leeward: Downwind.

Leeway: When a boat sails across the wind, the force of the wind causes the boat to slip sideways. This drifting or sideway motion is known as Leeway.

Lifelines: The lines running around the outside of the deck creating a railing. The lines are attached to stanchions (upright metal posts).

Luff: The forward edge of a sail running from head to tack (front corner of the sail).

Luffing: A sail is luffing when it starts to flutter in the wind. The term Luff is also used to describe the same situation. “The sail is starting to luff.”

Luff Up: To turn into the wind to cause the sails to start luffing.

M ultihull – Any boat that has more than one hull, such as a catamaran.

Made fast: Secured to.

Mast: The upright pole supported by the shrouds, forestay and backstay to which the sails are attached.

Masthead fly: A windvane attached to the top of the mast to show which direction was wind is coming from.

Monkey fist: A type of knot, heavy in nature and tied to the end of the rope. The weighted knot makes it easier to throw the rope a farther distance.

Mooring ball: An anchored ball to which you can secure your boat. Safer alternative to anchoring provided the mooring ball and lines are in good condition.

Mooring lines: Lines used to secure a boat to a dock or mooring ball.

MSD: Marine sanitation device (toilet).

N eap tide – When during the four week tidal cycle, the tide rises and drops the least.

Nautical mile (NM): International standard for measuring distance on water. One nautical mile equals one minute of latitude. (One nautical mile equals 1.15 land miles.)

O uthaul – This is a line used to tension the foot of the sail, to better control the curvature of the sail

P ulpit – A sturdy rail around the deck on the bow, normally surrounding the forestay

Pad eye: A metal eye (ring) through which lines can be passed in order to stop chaffing.

Painter: The bow line of a dinghy.

P-effect (Prop Walk): When a boat is in a standstill position and put into forward or reverse, the resistance of the boat to move and the motion of the propeller creates a paddlewheel effect pulling the stern of the boat to either port or starboard side depending on the spin of the propeller. This paddlewheel effect is known as P-effect or Prop Walk. P-effect is especially noticable in reverse where there is greater boat resistance to move backwards thus making it easier for the prop to pull the boat sideways.

PFD: Personal Floatation Device – life jacket.

Pintle and gudgeon: The pintle and the gudgeon together form a swinging hinge usually associated with the installation of the rudder on smaller tiller steered boats. The pintle has pins that fit into the holes on the gudgeon thus creating a hinge like fitting.

Points of sail: A reference for the direction the boat is travelling in relation to the wind. (in irons, close hauled, close reach, beam reach, broad reach, running)

Port: When on a boat and facing forward, the left hand side of the boat.

Port tack: Sailing across the wind so that the wind hits the port (left) side of the boat first.

Pulpit: Located at the bow of the boat, this area is enclosed by a metal railing.

Pushpit: Located at the stern of the boat and like the pulpit, this area is enclosed by a metal railing.

Q uadrant – This is a device connected to the rudder that the steering cables attach to

R egatta – Boat races

S hroud – The wires at the side that hold the mast up

Schooner: A sailboat that has two masts both the same height or on some schooners, the aft mast is higher than the fore mast.

Scope: Expressed in terms of a ratio, it is the length of the anchor rode let out compared to height above the sea bed. Height is measured not from the water line but from the top of the deck to the sea bed. A safe anchoring ratio is 1:7 which translates to 7 feet of anchor rode for every foot of height. Many sailors incorrectly assume that height means water depth and therefore find themselves dragging the anchor for lack of proper scope.

Seaworthy: A boat that is fit to be sailed at sea.

Self-bailing cockpit: A cockpit that allows water to drain automatically from the cockpit to the outside of the boat.

Shackles: Metal fittings (often U shaped) that open and close with a pin across the top of the ‘U’. Lines and halyards often use shackles. The mainsail halyard is secured to the head of the mainsail with the use of a shackle.

Sheave: A roller/wheel to guide a line or wire.

Sheets: Lines that are used to adjust sails by either pulling them in or by letting them out.

Shrouds: Also called sidestays, shrouds are the metal wires found on both sides of the mast running from the deck to the top or near top of the mast. The shrouds support the mast by providing lateral support.

Slack water: The period between the flood (tidal water moving in) and the ebb (tidal water moving out) where the water has in effect stalled – little or no movement.

Slides: The groove in the mast to which the luff (front side) of the mainsail is inserted. The slides hold the sail tight against the mast and allows the sail to be easily raised or lowered.

Sloop: a sailboat that has one mast and sails with the mainsail and one foresail.

Soundings: Water depths.

Spar: A spar can refer to any of the following: mast, boom or a pole.

Spinnaker: A large balloon-like foresail used for sailing downwind (running or broad reach).

Spinnaker pole: The spinnaker pole is boom-like in nature, but smaller and lighter, and attaches to fore part of the mast a few feet up from the deck. The other end of the spinnaker pole attaches to the leeward (down wind) base of the spinnaker.

Spreaders: Bars extending sideways from the mast (gives the mast a cross-like appearance). The spreaders hold out the shrouds so that they do not interfer with the rigging.

Springlines: Springlines are used to secure a boat to a dock and stop the boat from moving forward or backwards. The aft springline runs from a point on the boat near the bow to a point aft on the dock. The forward springline runs from a point on the boat near the stern to a point forward on the dock.

Squall: A sudden isolated storm associated with potentially high wind gusts.

Stanchions: Upright metal posts running around the outside of the deck supporting the lifelines.

Stand: This refers to the short period of time where the tide is neither rising or falling. (At a stand still.)

Standing rigging: Standing rigging includes the forestay, backstay and the shrouds. Unlike the ‘running rigging’, the standing rigging is generally only adjusted when the boat is not underway.

Stand-on boat: The boat that must retain her current course and rate of speed in order to avoid a potential collision with an approaching give-way boat.

Starboard: As you face towards the bow on a boat, starboard is the right hand side of the boat.

Starboard tack: Sailing across the wind with the wind hitting the starboard (right) side of the boat first.

Steerage: The ability of the boat to be steered. In order for a rudder to be effective in steering a boat, there must be boat movement. A boat not moving cannot be steered.

Stern: The most aft part of a boat (the very back of the boat).

Storm jib: Same as a jib but not as big. The smaller sail is used in high wind conditions.

T ender – A small boat or dinghy used to ferry crew between the boat and shore

Tack: The front lower corner of a sail. Also means to sail back and forth across the wind in either a port or starboard tack.

Tacking: Also called “Coming About”. Tacking is when the bow of the boat is turned through the wind onto the opposite tack.

Tail: The bitter end of a sheet tailing out from a winch.

Tang: A metal fitting used to affix the stays to the mast.

Telltails: (Also called Ticklers) These are small strings (wool, plastic) attached to both sides of the luff of the sail. When the telltails on both sides of the sail are blowing straight back, this indicates that the sail has been properly trimmed.

Through hulls: Through hulls are holes that go through the boat. Each through hull will have a shuttle cock (value) to stop the flow of water. An example of a through hull would be the head (bathroom). A through hull value is opened so that water from outside the boat can be pumped into the MSD (toilet). The value is closed and the toilet pumped empty into a holding tank.

Tide: The vertical rise and fall the oceans.

Tide rips: This is an area of rough water where the wind is blowing across the water in the opposite direction from which strong tidal current is flowing.

Tiller: In boats that are not steered by a wheel, a tiller (long handle) is attached to the top of the rudder in order to facilitate steering.

Toe rail: A small metal railing running around the outside of the deck used to support your feet.

Topping lift: A line running from the top of the mast to the end of the boom. The topping lift supports the boom when the sail has been lowered.

Topside: The portion of the hull above the water line.

Transom: The flat area across the stern of the boat.

Trim: To trim or adjust the sail to make it more effective against the wind.

True wind: The actual wind felt wind the boat is not moving.

Turnbuckles: Adjustable fittings usually attached at the end of shrouds and stays. Turning the turnbuckle one way or the other tightens or loosens the wire.

U nfurl – To unroll a sail

Upstream: Moving from seaward into harbor, moving with the flood of the tide, moving up river toward the headwaters.

V ane – A wind direction indicator

Veering: A wind shift in the clockwise direction usually indicating that good weather is approaching.

W inch – A mechanical device for pulling in a line

Wake: The waves created behind a boat as a result of the boat moving through the water.

Way: Movement of the boat.

Weather helm: The tendancy of the boat to turn up wind after heeling (leaning over).

Wheel: Controls the rudder. Taking control of the wheel is taking the helm.

Winch: Provides a mechanical advantage. Used to raise the sails, tighten the sheets and other lines.

Windward: Towards the wind.

Wing to wing: Running (sail directly downwind) with the mainsail out one side of the boat and the foresail out the other side of the boat.

X marks the spot on the treasure map!

Y awing – The side to side movement of a boat on an uneven course

Yawl: A sailboat that has two masts. The aft mast (mizzen) is shorter than the foremast. The mizzen mast is located aft the rudder post. (On a Ketch, the mizzen mast is located fore of the rudder post – this is the distinquishing factor between the two.)

Z ephyr – A very light westerly wind

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Superyacht Glossary: Terms You Will Need To Know

Are you starting a yachting career but not from a boating background? Then, it’s time to get across the superyacht jargon to feel well-versed on your first boat or day working experience. Here’s a glossary of terms about your new workplace.

The Basics: Navigating Your Way Around the Boat

Bow : Front of the boat. (Pointy end.)

Stern : Back of the boat. (Blunt bit.)

Foredeck . Forward deck.

Aft deck : Rear deck.

Midships : The halfway point between bow and stern. Also, amidships. 

Port : Left-hand side of the boat (when facing the bow).

Starboard : Right-hand side of the boat (when facing the bow).

Quarter : A yacht can be divided into quarters, and this can help a captain direct their crew where to go on deck. Port Bow and Starboard Bow cover the two areas from midships up to the bow. Port Quarter and Starboard Quarter cover the areas running aft from midships to the stern.

Beam : Width of the yacht at its widest point.

Draft/draught : Depth of the yacht under the waterline.

Hull : The ’base’ of the boat. Everything from the main decking down.

Superstructure : Everything built on top of the hull. (Upper decks)

Bridge/Wheelhouse : Where the captain drives the boat. An interior space on an upper deck with good visibility across the front of the yacht to sea.

Flybridge : A secondary exterior helm station where the captain drives the boat from the yacht’s top deck. The flybridge is outdoors and offers almost 360-degree visibility.

Cockpit : An area on deck where the captain drives the boat (sailboat). Also, often a seating/dining area.

Helm : The yacht wheel and steering system. One can ’stand at the helm’, ’go to the helm’ or even ’helm the boat’.

Galley : Where the magic happens. (Never call it a kitchen!)

Forepeak : A compartment/large locker or cabin located up in the nose of the boat, under the foredeck. On small sailing boats, the crew may live in the forepeak cabin.

Swim platform : A platform at the back of the boat, off the aft deck, for swimming and launching the water toys.

Transom : The vertical span across the stern where the boat’s name is written.

Passerelle : The gangplank! There’s nothing like walking across a superyacht passerelle for the first time. (Remember, never step on the passerelle with your shoes on).

Lazarette : Storage in the boat’s stern, under the aft deck area, is generally where the water toys are stored.

Main Salon : The formal lounge space on the main deck. Adjoins typically the formal dining room, often as an open-plan space.

Sky Lounge : Upper salon. A comfortable lounge space, generally with a large-screen TV, card/occasional tables and possibly a piano.

Sundeck : Top deck of a motor yacht, where you’ll find sunbeds, BBQ, a bar, a dining table, and a Jacuzzi.

Stateroom : Cabin. Across the industry, superyacht cabins are increasingly called staterooms or suites on larger yachts. However, in practice, crew generally continue to call them cabins —or they cut off the word altogether, instead saying ’clean the master/VIP/starboard forward’ etc.

Head and Day head :   In sailor-speak, a ’head’ is a boat toilet. On superyachts, it’s relatively uncommon to call a bathroom a head, except in one crucial leftover case: the day head. This small toilet/washroom is one that guests will use when they want to avoid going back to their cabin to use the bathroom. On superyachts, they are located on the main and upper decks and occasionally on the sundeck.

Note that you’ll still hear some crew say, ’I’m going to use the head’ instead of ’I’m going to the toilet/bathroom’ because the word ’head’ is much more common on sailboats than motor yachts.

Lines and Equipment

Bow Line/Aft Line : The rope tied from the bow/aft to the dock stops the vessel from moving when in its berth. 

Spring Line : A line tied diagonally from the bow or stern to a point on the dock to stop the yacht from moving forwards or backwards. 

Cleat : A piece of stainless steel fixed to the deck or capping rails that lines are tied to.

Bulwark : The sides of a motor yacht that rise up from the deck. (The outside bit that stops you from falling off).

Capping rail : The rail on top of the bulwark, which is usually varnished to a high gloss.

Fender : The strong rubber ’balloons’ suspended over the sides of the yacht to protect the paintwork when the yacht is docked or manoeuvring in or out of berths.

Stabiliser : Underwater systems to reduce the yacht rolling at sea. Zero-speed stabilisers are stabilisers that work both at anchor and underway.

Tender : A small boat used to ferry guests ashore, get supplies, take rubbish in etc. There’s a vast range of tenders, including high-speed and limousine tenders, which are covered tenders that protect the guests from wind and sea spray.

Rescue tender : A rescue tender is a tender over 3.8m that is classed as one of the yacht’s vessels for rescue operations under SOLAS guidelines. It has certain safety specifications but can also be used for everyday boat operations, just like a standard tender, so you’ll often hear the captain say, ’Take the rescue tender’.

Other Yachting Terms You’ll Need To Know

An APA is a sum, usually 25-35% of the charter fee, that the charterer will pay in advance so that the yacht crew can stock the yacht with food, drink, and fuel and have money in the kitty for things like berthing fees. Any unused money at the end of the trip is returned to the charterer.

Bimini : A shade awning.

Bulkheads : The yacht’s internal walls and watertight compartments.

Ensign : The yacht’s flag, indicating which country it is registered in. Note that yachts are only sometimes registered in the nationality of the people that own them. And also that a yacht is legally considered a tiny, floating part of the country whose flag it flies and therefore operates under its laws and jurisdiction.

Knot : A measure of speed used on boats equal to one nautical mile (1.8km/hr).

Nautical Mile : Different from land miles! A nautical mile (1852m) is longer than a land mile (1609m).

Preference sheet : The form a charterer fills out to inform the yacht’s crew of their preferences regarding food, drink, activities etc. This preference sheet is given to the senior crew before the charter so the captain, chef, and chief stew can prepare the yacht for the charter.

Pullman : A pull-down berth to add an extra bed. These pull-down wall-mounted bunks are usually found in twin cabins for a third bed.

Phew! See? You’re already an expert :)

Contact information

Sharon Rose

The Only 50 Sailing Terms You'll Need To Know (With Pictures)

Ever get confused by all those odd sailing terms? Starboard, tack, jib… Well, no worries. In this article, I'll go over the most important sailing terms for beginners.

This is a great resource for beginning sailors that need an overview of the most important sailing terms without drowning in it . For a comprehensive list, check out this Wikipedia glossary of nautical terms . There are A LOT of nautical terms there. But no one in his or her right mind will read through that entire page (it has 48.434 words!). There are a lot of obscure words listed that no one really uses anyways. So in this article, I've filtered out the most important ones to get you up to speed quickly. I've also added pictures so you'll know what we're talking about.

Let's jump straight in. For the sake of good manners, I have categorized them by topic. If you are looking for a specific term, just ctrl+f your way directly to it.

Here are the only 50 sailing terms you'll need to know:

Orientation

Parts of the boat, parts related to sails, other terms.

...because it isn't as easy as 'left', 'right', 'front' and 'back'. No, no.

Port is the left side of the boat. It's as simple as that. I'm not entirely sure why don't they just call it 'left' these days. The name came to existence because centuries ago, you always docked your big boat with the harbor (port) being on the left side. And the word stuck with us till today.

Starboard is the right side of the boat. If in a car, you say 'look to your right', on a boat, you say 'look to the starboard'. Again, you might as well just call it 'right'. Oh, wait… you wouldn't seem as cool if you did. Alright, let's keep calling it starboard.

The bow is the front of the boat. The word likely comes from the Middle Dutch 'boech' (nowadays spelled 'boeg'). If you call it 'front' instead, you will get your message across just as well. But it won't get you the admiring looks from those around you.

Stern is the back of the boat. That is where you, as a captain, will spend most of your time. Whether you will force your crew to call it 'stern' or let them use the word 'back', like the dry land creatures they are, is up to you. After all, you are the captain.

The windward side of the boat is the side facing into the wind. So if the wind is coming from the right side, the windward side is on the right. Unlike some of the previous ones, this term actually makes sense - at times you need to talk about a direction not fixed in relation to the boat, but rather relative to the direction of the wind.

Leeward side of the boat is the lee side. If the wind is coming from the right side, the leeward side is on the left. Note that neither windward nor leeward specify the angle of the wind. Thus even if the wind was coming 20 degrees right off of the direction of the boat, so almost from the front, left would still be considered the leeward side.

Since there are gadgets and parts on the boat that you won't see anywhere else, it only makes sense they all have their own special name. You want to know these because unlike the direction terms where you can do with 'left' and 'right', you don't want to call a tiller 'that stick thing back there'.

Helm is the boat's steering wheel. In this case, I forgive those who came up with this name, since it is shorter than 'steering wheel' and thus saves valuable time that we can spend on sailing. Though I doubt linguistic economy was the reason.

Tiller is the long stick that operates your boat's rudder. A steering stick, if you will. It has the same function as a helm does, but it is usually used on smaller boats, where a helm would take up too much space. Or by people who prefer it to a helm, since a tiller offers a bit more in terms of response.

The rudder is the long, flat piece of metal or wood that sits underwater below the back of your boat. Connected to a tiller or a helm, it is used to control the direction of your exciting voyage. By the way, since aerodynamics and hydrodynamics work in similar ways, a plane is also operated by a rudder. Though that one isn't underwater. Hopefully.

Hull is the boat's body. Whatever the shape or size, whether opened on top (like a dinghy) or closed by a deck, (like a traditional sailboat) it's all called a hull. Structures sitting on top of the deck, like a deck salon or cabins, aren't considered a part of the hull anymore.

The keel is an underwater fin below the boat's belly. The sizes and shapes vary, sometimes it is relatively short and goes deep, (fin keel) sometimes it runs from the front all the way to the back (full keel or ballast keel). It is there mainly for stability and to help maintain forward direction when sailing.

The cockpit is the area where a boat is operated from. On sailboats, it is usually in the back and it is an open area without a roof, though this varies. You will find the rudder control and winches there. In 'smaller' (below 70 ft or so) sailboats this area oftentimes doubles as a deck dining place with a table and seating.

The bimini is a sun roof or shade that is covers the cockpit, and is generally attached to a steel frame which runs over the cockpit.

This is where things tend to get confusing. There are a whole lot of parts and a whole lot of names for them. It pays off for you and your crew to know them though, as during the stormier moments, you all want to be on the same boat (ha, ha) linguistically, as every second counts.

Lines are ropes. Not much more to add here. I suppose a 'line' sounds a bit fancier than a 'rope'. One thing this article will teach you is that if there is the slightest crack in the wall of your boat, linguistic elitism will leak its way in.

This one is quite self-explanatory. The mainsail is the main, largest sail of the boat, attached to the mast on the side and the boom at the bottom. It has a triangular shape and serves as the most important sail, the first one you should get acquainted with if you are just starting out.

The jib is the front sail of your boat, sometimes also called the genoa. That is as long as you are sailing on the traditional sloop - the classical two sail setup you see the most often. The jib is wrapped around the line that goes from the top of your mast to the boat's bow.

Spinnaker is the third type of sail you are the most likely to encounter on your travels. It goes in front of your boat and has a half balloon or kite-like shape. This is because it is constructed specifically for sailing downwind. Its purpose is to grab as much backwind as it can and drag your boat forward. It is not attached to the boat most of the time like the mainsail or the jib, instead, it is stored separately and used only when needed.

The mast is the tall, vertical pole that goes from the floor of your salon, through the deck, meters above your boat. All the sails are attached to it, also radars and lights, giving sailboats radio and visual visibility far greater than that of equally sized motorboats. Take that, ya noisy stinkies!

The boom is the horizontal pole right above the deck, attached to the mast at the right angle. The bottom of the mainsail is attached to it, it is used to determine its shape and direction. It is also where the mainsail is often stored, folded and covered with a protective sheet. The boom is also among the top causes of injuries on a sailboat, as in certain winds it tends to swing with force powerful enough to knock a few grown men overboard. Stay away from its reach at all times when under sail.

The forestay is the cable going from the top of the mast to the very front of the bow. It is there to hold the mast in place. Sometimes you will find people refer to it as the 'headstay'. It is often made of steel, so it is safe to hold on to it when you are pretending to be Jack on the bow of the Titanic's, the boat hits a wave and you lose your balance.

This diagram is from our guide on sailboat parts , which I really recommend for beginners. It walks you through all the most important sailboat parts in normal words.

The backstay is the cable going from the top of the mast to the very back of the boat. In many cases it is doubled at the bottom, each end attached to one corner of the back of the boat so that they don't interfere with space and provide more stability for the mast. Just as with forestay, these are made of steel.

Shrouds are the cables going from the top of the mast to the left and right side of the boat. Sometimes there are four, two on each side. Together with forestay and backstay, they make sure your mast withstands all the forces exerted on it when the wind pushes the sails.

The foot of a sail is its bottom edge. If you imagine a sail as a triangle, the base is called the foot. You probably won't use this term while sailing, but when researching proper sail trim, it is likely you will stumble upon it.

This diagram is again from our guide on sailboat parts , which I really recommend for beginners. If you're looking for a good starting point to learn your sailboat ins and outs, this article is perfect for you.

Leech of a sail is its back side edge. Thus it is the part closest to you when you are standing at the helm. Just as with the foot, this is a term quite often used when describing sail trimming techniques, since the shape of the leech determines the shape of the whole sail.

Luff of a sail is its front side edge. Thus the part the furthest from you when you are standing at the helm. For mainsail, it is the edge that is right next to the mast, for the foresail it is the edge right next to the forestay. Just as with foot and leech, the shape of these edges determines the overall shape of the sail so you will most likely encounter these terms in trimming lessons and tutorials.

The head of a sail is its top corner. On a traditional sloop, you will have the 'main head' and the 'jib head'. There is usually a reinforcing patch of some kind on these corners, as you will find a hole in them to which a line is attached.

It's also something else entirely, but more on that later ...

Halyard is the line attached to the sail head. On your boat, you will most likely have two. The 'main halyard' which is what you use to hoist your mainsail if it is folded on the boom, and the 'jib halyard' which holds the jib head up.

Clew of a sail is its back corner. The line attached to the 'main clew' will be used to hoist your mainsail if it is wrapped inside of the mast. The line attached to the 'jib clew' will be used to open the jib on most sailboats since jibs are most often wrapped around the luff.

Telltales are light, usually cotton or wool pieces of ropes attached to a sail, showing you the airflow around it. These are important because they help you determine if your trim is effective or not. Because of the material they are made of, you might sometimes encounter them being called 'woolies'.

Vang, or a 'boom vang' is a device pulling the boom down. This is important because it controls the tension of the mainsail, influencing its shape greatly. You won't find it on every boat though. Holiday cruisers often don't have it, as it is a piece of equipment focused on performance and thus not necessary for your average trip.

Topping Lift

The topping lift is a line that is attached to the aft (back) end of the boom and runs to the top of the mast. It supports the boom whenever you take down the mainsail.

Also referred to as a 'horse', the traveler is a side to side track to which the boom is attached, allowing the control of the extent to which the boom goes off the centerline. This is important especially if the wind is blowing from behind and you need to control the angle of the mainsheet.

Outhaul is the line attached to the mainsail or the jib clew, allowing the control of the foot tension. This is important for determining the sail shape - for instance in stronger winds, you want the foot to be more tense to achieve a more effective airflow as opposed to slower winds where you can allow the foot to arch more.

Reefing is reducing the sail area to lessen the power exerted on it by the wind. You may want to reef if the wind is getting too strong for your boat, or if it is changing too rapidly, as an overpowered boat is difficult to control. Fun fact: they say that when you feel you need to reef because the wind got too strong, it is already too late to reef.

A batten is a slat placed horizontally in the body of the sail to support its shape. You will not find them on all sailboats, it is a performance-enhancing element that many cruisers lack. It helps tremendously as without it, sails tend to belly out and lose their shape under certain conditions.

The cleat is a piece of fitting where a line can be secured and immobilized, even if under great tension. It usually consists of two cogwheel-like pieces fastened close to each other, in the middle of which the rope is placed, unable to move thanks to friction. This type is great as it allows for a quick release. Sometimes though, it is a simple piece of metal or plastic where the rope is tied.

...and then there are all those things that just float around you when sailing, those little things that are the reason for you having to carry a dictionary in your pocket.

Fenders are bumpers allowing some contact with other boats or piers while docked, without scraping the paint. They are often balloon-shaped, made of rubber or some relatively soft material. They are usually attached to the boat's railing and you move them around as you need.

The beam is the width of the boat. Could be just called width, I know. The word comes from the fact that there are transverse reinforcing beams in the boat hull and deck. Next time you are choosing your charter boat for holidays, you will know what this attribute means.

True wind is the actual direction and speed of the wind. This is different than the apparent wind, which is wind direction and speed relative to the boat. Apparent wind is a combination of the true wind and the headwind, which is the wind the boat experiences solely by being in motion.

The berth is a sleeping space on a boat. Thus if a boat has eight berths, it means eight people can comfortably sleep on it. Note that this often includes the salon couches, so a berth is not necessarily a space in an actual bed for one person.

Boat's draft is the distance from the water surface to the deepest point of the boat. In other words, the draft is the minimum water depth you can go to and not scrape your hull or keel. Better double this number when sailing, just to be safe, as hitting the seabed can have disastrous consequences.

Tacking is zig-zagging towards your destination. It is necessary in case your destination is in the direction of the wind since sailboats can not go directly into it. Since the closest to the wind direction you can sail is around 45 degrees, you have to change direction left and right from your desired course.

This diagram is from our guide on sailing into the wind for beginners , which explains in 7 simple steps how to get good upwind sailing performance.

Bareboat is a boat without a skipper. You will encounter this term in boat charters and it means you rent the boat without any crew, thus you need to operate it yourself. It is the best way to sail unless you enjoy living in close proximity to a sea wolf who you also have to feed.

The chart is a nautical map. It differs from classical maps as it depicts information relevant for a sailor - water depth, navigational hazards, seabed material, anchorages and so on. Formerly made of paper, these days made of ones and zeros. As is everything in this digital world.

We have a guide that explains all the different chart types clearly for beginners - read it here .

Galley on a boat is its kitchen. Also a medieval warship, but if you find this term in a boat's description, war is not likely what they have in mind.

Heads on a boat is the bathroom. Though in all my years of sailing I have never ever heard anybody use this term instead of a 'bathroom'. I suppose saying that you are going to use the heads just sounds odd.

A knot is the unit of speed of boats. It is equal to one nautical mile per hour. That is 1.852 kilometers per hour or 1.5078 miles per hour. Though a bit confusing and annoying at times, you will have to get used to this, since most of your boat's instruments will use this unit. It dates all the way back to the seventeenth century when boat's speed was measured with a rope with knots tied on it.

Mooring is attaching the boat to a buoy that is anchored to the seabed. This is usually a cheaper option to docking in a marina. It also means larger space between the boats anchored in the same area, thus more privacy. Though you will have to use your dinghy to get to shore instead of just stepping on the pier directly from your deck.

A salon on a boat is its living room. On smaller boats, it is usually in the same room as the boat's kitchen and the captain's corner with navigation instruments.

A skipper is the captain of a sailboat. If you ask me, the word 'captain' is much better than a skipper, which to me sounds like a small boy who sits on the shore the whole day, skipping stones. But hey, who am I to talk.

A monohull is a classical boat with a single hull. A boat with two hulls is called a catamaran, or a 'cat'. Although rare, there are also trimarans, boats with three hulls. Multihulls with four or more hulls do happen but they are an unnecessary freak of nature.

So there you have it. Fifty sailing terms you will encounter the most when traveling or learning. I know you might think some of them are a bit unnecessary since they have a perfectly fine 'real world' equivalent. I agree. But until the tradition changes, you might want to get some of these under your skin.

A boat's freeboard is the distance from the upper deck to the waterline. Classic yachts have low freeboards, so they appear to lay deeper in the water, as opposed to more modern yachts, which have a higher freeboard. It literally means 'free-board' : the amount of visible board.

The lunch hook is a light anchor setup that is used to moor small yachts temporarily. It typically uses a lightweight anchor on a short scope that takes little effort to set. The lunch hook is only used when the crew is on board and will be monitoring the anchor.

In naval architecture and ship design: “Head” = WC = Bathroom. A toilet is still a toilet. The toilet is in the head. In olden day, the toilet was a hole in the head.

Hi Rich, you’re absolutely right. I’ve corrected the error. Thanks for pointing it out.

A nautical mile is one minute of a degree, so if you travel 60 nautical miles that means you have gone 1 degree around the “globe”. (Note: arc length not actual length.) This is the original definition. As such the average was agreed upon and the lengths given a standardization. Which you mentioned.

As such 1 knot is to travel one nautical mile in an hour.

Also 1.5078. I think you made a mistake as it should be 1.1508 miles to a nautical mile.

Thanks for the information. Sorry about being a pedantic mathematics teacher.

So, where is the “nautical mile” calculated from, the equator or one of the tropic lines?

Just to clarify a nautical mile. If you draw an imaginary line from the North Pole or South Pole to the center of the Earth and draw another line from the center of the Earth to any point on the equator, it forms a right angle, which is 90 degrees. This equates to latitude. The equator is 0 degrees and the poles are 90 degrees. Your latitude is the angle that you are north or south of the equator. Each degree of latitude is divided into 60 minutes. A minute of latitude is the same distance matter where you are on Earth. It is 6,076 feet. This is the length of a nautical mile. A statute mile is 5,280 feet, so a nautical mile is 1.1508 statute miles.

Thank you very clear and well explained. Hopefully I’ll remember The Fifty

KöhnSharkösz

Really? No gunwale? No transom? Those or basic terms to the Washington State Boater Education Card required to operate watercraft here. Definitely more of a “need to know” than bimini.

Thank you, those definitions and explanations were clear, thorough, and helpful. I’m really glad I found my way (somehow) to your webpage.

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Yachting is an increasingly popular activity that involves exploring and enjoying bodies of water aboard sailboats or motorboats. It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned sailor or brand-new to the sport; knowing the language used in yachting is crucial for efficient communication and secure navigation. We’ll look at some of the most often used terminology and expressions in the world of yachting in this list of 100 fundamental yachting terms, from boat parts to navigation and safety gear, and more. This list is an excellent place to start whether you’re seeking to brush up on your yachting terminology or are just beginning into the sport.

Aft – Toward the back of the boat

Anchor – A heavy object used to keep a boat in place

Ballast – Weight added to the bottom of a boat to improve stability

Beam – The width of a boat at its widest point

Bilge – The lowest point inside the boat where water collects

Bimini – A type of sunshade or canopy used on boats

Bow – The front of a boat

Buoy – A floating marker used to mark channels, hazards or anchorages

Cabin – An enclosed space on a boat used for sleeping and living quarters

Capsize – To tip over or turn upside down

Cleat – A metal or plastic fitting used to secure ropes or lines to the boat

Cockpit – The open area in the back of the boat where the steering and controls are located

Compass – A navigational tool used to determine the direction

Crew – The people who work on a boat, assisting with sailing or other duties

Deck – The top surface of a boat where people can stand or walk

Dock – A platform or structure where boats can be tied up or moored

Draft – The depth of a boat below the waterline

Fender – A cushion or bumper used to protect the boat from damage when docking

Flag – A piece of fabric used to signal or communicate on a boat

Galley – The kitchen area on a boat

Genoa – A type of sail that is used for cruising and racing

GPS – Global Positioning System, a navigational system that uses satellites to determine the location

Halyard – A rope or line used to hoist or lower a sail

Hatch – An opening in the deck or cabin of a boat

Head – The bathroom on a boat

Hull – The main body of the boat, typically made of fiberglass or wood

Jib – A small triangular sail located forward of the mast

Keel – A fin-shaped object located under the boat that provides stability and helps prevent drifting

Knot – A measure of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour

Lanyard – A short cord or rope used to secure equipment or gear on a boat

Latitude – A measure of distance north or south of the equator

Leeward – The side of the boat sheltered from the wind

Lifeline – A line or rope used to provide safety and support on the deck of a boat

Log – A device used to measure speed and distance traveled

Mast – A vertical pole or spar that supports the sails

Mooring – The process of securing a boat to a dock or anchor

Nautical – Relating to or involving ships, sailors, or navigation on water

Navigation – The process of planning and controlling the course of a boat

Oar – A long pole with a flat blade used for rowing a boat

Outboard – A motor located on the outside of the boat

Port – The left side of a boat when facing forward

Propeller – A device that uses rotating blades to provide forward motion to a boat

Pulpit – A railing or fence located on the bow of the boat

Rudder – A flat object located at the back of the boat used to steer

Sail – A piece of fabric used to catch the wind and propel the boat

Sailing is the practice of using the wind to power a vessel through the water

Sheet – A line or rope used to control the angle of the sails

Skipper – The person in charge of operating a boat

Stern – The back of the boat

Tack – The direction of a boat when it is sailing upwind

Throttle – The control used to increase or decrease engine speed

Tiller – A handle or lever used to steer a boat

Transom – The flat, vertical surface at the back of the boat where the outboard motor is mounted

Trim – The adjustment of the sails and other equipment to optimize performance

Wake – The waves created by a boat as it moves through the water

Windward – The side of the boat facing into the wind

Winch – A device used to pull or hoist heavy objects on a boat

Yacht – A larger, more luxurious type of boat typically used for pleasure cruising

Bilge pump – A device used to pump water out of the bilge

Boom – The horizontal pole or spar that extends from the mast to support the bottom of the sail

Bowline – A knot used to secure a line to a fixed object

Cam cleat – A device used to secure a line under tension

Catamaran – A type of boat with two parallel hulls

Centerboard – A movable fin located underneath the boat that helps improve stability and maneuverability

Chafe – The wearing away or damage to a rope or line caused by friction against another surface

Clew – The lower corner of a sail

Current – The flow of water in a particular direction

Dinghy – A small boat used to transport people or supplies to and from shore

Fairlead – A device used to guide a line or rope in a particular direction

Flotation device – A piece of equipment used to keep a person afloat in the water

Forestay – The wire or rope that supports the mast at the front of the boat

Gaff – A spar used to support the upper edge of a sail

Headway – The forward motion of a boat

Inboard – A motor located inside the boat

Jibsheet – The line or rope used to control the jib sail

Keelboat – A type of sailboat with a fixed keel for stability and maneuverability

Luff – The forward edge of a sail

Masthead – The top of the mast where the highest sails are attached

Navigation lights – Lights used to signal other boats of the position and direction of a boat at night

Outhaul – The line or rope used to control the tension of the bottom of the sail

Planing – The state of a boat when it is moving quickly across the water and partially out of the water

Powerboat – A type of boat that is powered by an engine rather than sails

Ratchet block – A device used to reduce the effort required to pull a line under tension

Reefing – The process of reducing the size of the sails in high wind conditions

Rigging – The system of ropes and wires used to support and control the sails and mast

Rudderpost – The vertical post or shaft that the rudder is attached to

Scow – A type of sailboat with a flat bottom and squared-off ends

Shackle – A metal fitting used to connect two pieces of rope or chain

Spinnaker – A large, lightweight sail used to catch the wind when sailing down

wind 90. Spreaders – The horizontal struts on a mast that help to support and spread the shrouds

Standing rigging – The fixed parts of a boat’s rigging system, such as the mast and shrouds

Stern light – A white light on the back of a boat used to signal other boats at night

Stowaway – A person who hides on a boat in order to travel without permission

Tiller extension – A device used to extend the length of the tiller to make steering easier

Topside – The upper part of a boat, above the waterline

Transom door – A door in the back of a boat that provides access to the water

Traveler – A device used to move the mainsail along the boom

Waterline – The level at which a boat floats in the water

Winch handle – A handle used to turn winches to control the sails and lines

Yawl – A type of sailboat with two masts, the smaller of which is located aft of the rudder post.

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21 Common Yachting Terms Explained

Does it ever feel like yacht enthusiasts speak a whole other language? We get it. Everyone was new to yachting once and we all had to learn what different terms mean. Luckily, you have Ahoy Club to show you the ropes. Brush up on your sea vocabulary with some common definitions in our glossary below.

Essentially, parking your yacht so that you can hop over to shore and explore. It also refers to the literal anchor which holds your yacht in place.

APA (Advanced Provisioning Allowance)

A deposit paid by charterers to cover expenses during their trip. Expenses may include taxes, harbour fees, food and alcohol.

Base charter rate

The rate that you pay for the hire of your yacht and its crew. This does not include on board expenses and taxes which are covered by your APA (see above).

The total width of the yacht at its widest point.

The bedrooms on your yacht.

A type of yacht with two hulls. It was designed this way for increased stability on the water.

Explorer yacht

A yacht that is built to go to the farthest corners of the globe and into rough terrains. See examples in our past blog .

The territory under which a yacht is registered. The yacht’s flag state will govern the laws and regulations which it must follow.

A traditional motorised sailing yacht typically found in Turkey.

The main body of the yacht floating in the water; covers the front, sides, back and underside.

A boat or yacht’s speed measured in nautical miles per hour (see below).

A large luxury yacht typically measuring over 70m.

A boat with a single hull. May be a sailing yacht, motor yacht, luxury super- or megayacht. See Catamaran above for comparison.

Motor yacht (or M/Y)

A yacht which is powered with engines. 

Nautical mile

A measure of distance on the water. One nautical mile is equal to 1852 metres or 1-minute of latitude on a navigational chart.

Preference sheet

The questionnaire that guests fill out before beginning their charter. It is meant to provide as much information as possible to the captain, crew and chef so that they may meet your preferences for an excellent trip.

Sailing yacht (or S/Y)

A yacht which is primarily powered with wind sails. Most also have motors as a backup.

The main living or lounge area on your yacht. Pronounced ‘sal-on’ not ‘sal-oon’.

A luxury yacht measuring between 24-69m.

A smaller boat housed on your yacht which can be used for transfers to shore, with your watertoys or on short day trips.

VAT (Value Added Tax)

A compulsory consumption tax set out by the countries you are visiting. See our blogs on the recent changes in Italy and France to learn more.

Yachting from A to Z with Ahoy Club

With Ahoy Club, you can expect everything about yacht chartering to be simpler. From our digital platform allowing you to browse thousands of yachts to our concierge team here to help with any questions. Check out our yachts for charter and test out your new yachting lingo ASAP.

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What is Yachting? From Yacht Girls to Luxury Companions – Everything You Need to Know

June 11, 2024

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Yachting is synonymous with luxury, exclusivity, and the allure of the open sea. This glamorous lifestyle captivates the imagination with images of sleek vessels, sun-soaked decks, and fun, gorgeous companions.

In this comprehensive guide, we aim to demystify the world of yachting, delving into the basics and unraveling the mystique that surrounds it. From understanding the excitement many have over yachting excursions to the role of yacht girls and luxury companions, this article offers a thorough overview for both novices and seasoned enthusiasts. 

As a premier provider of luxury travel companionship and concierge services for VIPs and high-net-worth individuals, Elite Muse brings you an insider’s perspective on this extraordinary way of life.

Understanding Yachting

What does yachting mean?

Yachting refers to the practice of sailing or cruising on a yacht, a specialized vessel designed for ultimate leisure and luxury on the seas. It encompasses a variety of activities, from serene coastal cruising to thrilling competitive sailing. Yachting is not just about the act of sailing; it embodies a lifestyle of elegance, adventure, and exclusivity, often associated with high society and luxury living.

A Brief History

The origins of yachting can be traced back to the 17th century when the Dutch used small, swift ships called “jaghts” to chase pirates and carry important messages. The term “yacht” itself is derived from the Dutch word “jacht,” meaning “hunt.” The sport and leisure aspect of yachting began to flourish when King Charles II of England received a yacht as a gift from the Dutch. This royal endorsement set the stage for yachting to become a popular pastime among European aristocracy.

Over the centuries, yachting evolved from a utilitarian activity into a symbol of wealth and sophistication. The Industrial Revolution and technological advancements in the 19th and 20th centuries brought significant changes to yacht design and construction. 

Steam power and, later, internal combustion engines revolutionized yachting, making it more accessible and luxurious. By the mid-20th century, yachting had firmly established itself as an exclusive leisure activity for the affluent, with the creation of luxury yachts that featured opulent interiors and state-of-the-art amenities.

Today, yachting remains a powerful symbol of luxury and prestige, attracting high-net-worth individuals and celebrities who seek the ultimate in comfort and style on the water.

The Different Forms of Yachting

There’s so much fun to be had when you go yachting. This outdoor water activity can be broadly categorized into three main forms: leisure yachting, competitive sailing, and luxury charters . Each form offers a unique experience and caters to different interests and preferences.

Leisure Yachting

If you are a more relaxed gentleman and you’re looking to enjoy the scenic beauty of various coastlines, as well has hopping from one port and harbor to another, then coastal cruising is the perfect activity for you.

However, for those with limited time but still want to enjoy, then day sailing offers the perfect experience of yachting without the need for long-term commitment. It’s a perfect way to enjoy a sunny day on the water with lovely company.

Some seasoned enthusiasts like to embark on longer journeys, exploring distant shores and even crossing oceans. If this sounds like an ideal voyage for you as you want to escape for weeks or even months, then extended yachting voyages make for a truly enriching and immersive yachting experience.

Competitive Sailing

And if you’re the type of gentleman who seeks thrill and excitement, then racing on yachts might be where you fit right in. First on the list are regattas . These are organized yacht races that test the skill, strategy, and speed of sailors. Regattas can range from local club events to prestigious international competitions like the America’s Cup.

Match racing , on the other hand, involves two yachts racing head-to-head, focusing on tactics and maneuvering. It’s a thrilling and intense form of competitive sailing that so many gentlemen also love to partake in.

Finally, there’s also offshore racing . These races cover long distances, often involving challenging weather conditions and navigation skills. The Volvo Ocean Race and Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race are prime examples of offshore racing.

Luxury Charters

But if it’s true opulence on the turquoise shores that you’re after, then private charters are the way to go. High net-worth individuals often charter luxury yachts for private use, enjoying personalized itineraries and exclusive experiences. These charters come with professional crews, including captains, chefs, and stewards, ensuring a bespoke and lavish journey.

Some businesses also do charter yachts for corporate events for an exclusive and unique setting for meetings, client entertainment, and even team-building activities. 

There are also themed cruises where the luxury boats are decorated with specific themes in mind, such as culinary cruises, wellness retreats, or exotic destination explorations, providing guests with specialized and memorable experiences.

Yachting, in all its forms, continues to captivate and inspire, offering unparalleled opportunities for relaxation, adventure, and luxury and Elite Muse is here to arrange yachting excursions depending on your preference and taste.

Who Yachts? Exploring the Elite Enthusiasts of the Yachting World

Yachting attracts a distinguished array of enthusiasts, including VIPs, celebrities, and high-net-worth individuals, who are drawn to its exclusivity, luxury, and unique experiences.

Many VIPs and celebrities yachts for privacy and seclusion, using it as an escape from public scrutiny. Events like the Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix highlight the presence of celebrity yachts, turning harbors into glamorous venues.

High-net-worth individuals also view yachting as the pinnacle of success and luxury. They own or charter yachts to explore exotic destinations, host lavish gatherings, and enjoy top-tier amenities, blending adventure with luxury.

There are also countless unique experiences and exclusive events that yachting has opened doors to. Some of these include intimate dinners with Michelin-starred chefs and private underwater explorations. 

Not only that, yachting offers customized itineraries to secluded islands, Mediterranean coasts, or even Arctic waters for exclusive access to the world’s most stunning destinations. Enthusiasts often attend events like the Monaco Yacht Show and the America’s Cup, which serve as both yacht showcases and social gatherings for the elite. 

With Elite Muse’s bespoke concierge services and luxury travel companions, all of these encounters are made even more exciting. From private onboard events to reservations at exclusive spots, Elite Muse elevates the yachting experience to new levels of luxury and sophistication.

Yacht Girls and Yacht Models

What is a yacht girl? The term “yacht girl” historically refers to women who accompany wealthy individuals on yachts, often providing companionship during voyages. Originally, this term carried a casual connotation, but it has evolved to include a more professional aspect with the rise of yacht models.

Yachting girls, or yacht models, often fulfill roles that enhance the yachting experience. They are expected to be well-versed in yachting etiquette, engage guests with charm and grace, and contribute to the overall ambiance of sophistication. The responsibilities of these boat girls can range from hosting and entertaining to assisting with various onboard activities, ensuring that the yachting journey is enjoyable and memorable for all guests aboard.

So, where do you find these fun and beautiful yacht girls to join you on your escapades?

Elite Muse is a premier provider of elite travel companions , including yacht models who are experienced in yachting etiquette. These professionals can accompany clients on their yachting adventures, bringing grace, sophistication, and a polished presence that enhances every aspect of the journey.

Whether for private charters , corporate events, or themed cruises, Elite Muse ensures that our clients enjoy an unparalleled yachting experience.

Luxury Travel Companions

Luxury travel companions, particularly paid female travel companions, provide an exclusive service highly sought after by the elite crowd. The demand for such services has grown as high net-worth individuals seek to enrich their travel experiences with the engaging and elegant companies.

Advantages of hiring a luxury travel companion for your yachting trips include:

• Enhanced experience
• Seamless social interactions
• Personalized service
• Increased comfort

Tips on Selecting a Reputable Agency and Finding the Perfect Companion

Being matched with a beautiful companion is one thing, but being matched witt the perfect companion for your needs and preferences is another! 

• Research thoroughly. Look for agencies with excellent reputations and verified reviews. Elite Muse is among the premier companion introduction agencies preferred by most elite gentlemen. With our track record and feedback from satisfied clients, you’re sure to find something you like within our roster.
• Check company credentials. Ensure the agency and companions you’re going for have proper credentials and experience in luxury travel. Peruse their website and trust your gut. 

Get personalized matching. Choose an agency that offers personalized matching services to find a companion whose interests and personality align with your preferences. From blonde beauties to mystical brunettes, our selection of yacht companions ensures you find someone you’re not only attracted to but will make for an amazing companion as you cruise the seas.

Luxury Yachting Planning with Elite Muse: Your Personal Concierge

Chartering a luxury yacht involves several steps, each requiring meticulous planning and attention to detail. But of course, Elite Muse simplifies it all for your convenience.

• Determine Preferences. Discuss your preferences, including destinations, type of yacht, and desired amenities.
• Select the Perfect Yacht. Our team will present a curated selection of yachts tailored to your specifications, ensuring the perfect match.
• Plan the Itinerary. Collaborate with the concierge team to create a customized itinerary that includes your preferred destinations and activities.
• Arrange Onboard Services. Elite Muse will coordinate all onboard services, from gourmet dining to spa treatments, tailored to your needs.
• Confirm and Enjoy. Once all details are finalized, simply embark on your luxurious yachting adventure and enjoy the experience.

Elite Muse’s dedicated concierge team plays a crucial role in making it your most exciting yacht trip yet. VIP experiences , private events, and exclusive shore excursions await you at the top yachting destinations around the world:

• Mediterranean . Discover hidden coves and historic ports with guided tours and private beach access.
• Caribbean . Enjoy vibrant cultures, pristine beaches, and secluded islands with tailored excursions.
• South Pacific. Explore remote archipelagos and underwater wonders with personalized diving and snorkeling trips.

Elite Muse’s expertise ensures that every destination offers unparalleled luxury and insider access, transforming your yachting journey into an extraordinary adventure.

Cruise the World’s Waters with Elite Muse

Ready to elevate your yachting journey? Go yachting with a travel companion arranged by Elite Muse. Discover the unparalleled luxury and personalized experiences we can bring.

Contact Elite Muse today to plan your bespoke yachting adventure and experience the epitome of sophistication on the open sea.

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Yachting 101: Fundamental Terms (+Slang and Jargon) Every Sailor Should Know

Here’s a list of fundamental yachting terms and slang words that are essential for efficient communication and secure navigation in the world of yachting and sailing:

• Aft – Toward the rear (stern) of the boat.
• Ahoy – A call used to greet someone or draw attention.
• Aloft – Up in the rigging.
• Anchor – A device used to hold a vessel in place.
• Astern – Behind the boat, or towards the back.
• Beam Reach – Sailing with the wind coming from the side.
• Beam – The width of the boat at its widest point.
• Bear Away – To steer away from the wind.
• Beating – Sailing upwind in a zigzag pattern.
• Bilge – The lowest part of the boat where water collects.
• Boom – A horizontal pole that extends from the bottom of the mast.
• Bow – The front of the boat.
• Bowline – A type of knot creating a fixed loop at the end of a rope.
• Broach – When a boat is knocked over by the wind.
• Burdened Vessel – The boat required to give way to another.
• Capsize – To overturn the boat in the water.
• Cat’s Paw – A light breeze that ruffles the water surface.
• Catamaran – A boat with two hulls.
• Chine – The intersection of the bottom and sides of a flat or v-bottomed boat.
• Cleat – A device for securing a rope.
• Close Reach – Sailing with the wind coming from the front quarter.
• Close-Hauled – Sailing as directly into the wind as possible.
• Cockpit – The area where the steering and navigation are done.
• Come About – To change direction by turning the bow through the wind.
• Companionway – The entrance from the deck to the cabin below.
• Course – The direction the boat is sailing.
• Cunningham – A line used to adjust the tension in the luff of the mainsail.
• Dead Ahead – Directly in front of the boat.
• Deck – The flat surface on top of the boat’s hull.
• Draft – The depth of water a boat needs to float.
• Draft – The vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of the hull.
• Ease – To let out a sail or a line.
• Fairlead – A device to guide a line in a desired direction.
• Fender – A cushion used to protect the boat from rubbing against the dock.
• Forepeak – The front-most part of the interior of a boat.
• Foul – Tangled or obstructed.
• Galley – The kitchen area on a boat.
• Genoa – A large foresail that overlaps the mainsail.
• Gimbals – A device that allows an object to stay level despite the boat’s motion.
• Gybe – To change direction by turning the stern through the wind.
• Halyard – A rope used for hoisting sails.
• Hard Alee – Command to push the tiller all the way to leeward.
• Hatch – An opening in the deck for access below.
• Head – The bathroom on a boat.
• Heave To – A way to stop the boat by adjusting the sails and rudder.
• Helm – The wheel or tiller used to steer the boat.
• Hull – The main body of the boat.
• Jackline – A safety line running the length of the boat for attaching a safety harness.
• Jib – A triangular foresail.
• Jibe – Another term for gybe.
• Keel – The central structural basis of the hull, extending along the bottom.
• Ketch – A two-masted sailboat with the mizzen mast shorter and aft of the mainmast.
• Knot – A measure of speed; one knot equals one nautical mile per hour.
• Lazarette – A storage space in the stern.
• Lee Helm – A tendency for the boat to turn away from the wind.
• Leeward – The direction away from the wind.
• Lines – Ropes used on a boat.
• List – When the boat tilts to one side.
• Log – A record of a boat’s journey and operations.
• Mainsail – The primary and largest sail on a sailboat.
• Mast – A vertical pole that supports the sails.
• Mooring – Securing the boat to a fixed object.
• Navigation – The process of planning and following a course.
• Painter – A line attached to the bow of a small boat for towing or securing.
• Painter – A rope attached to the bow of a small boat.
• Port – The left side of the boat when facing forward.
• Porthole – A window in the side of the boat.
• Quarter – The sides of a boat near the stern.
• Reef – To reduce the area of a sail.
• Reefing – Reducing the sail area.
• Rigging – The system of ropes, wires, and chains used to support and control the sails.
• Rudder – A flat piece, usually at the stern, used to steer the boat.
• Running Rigging – The ropes used to control sails and other movable equipment.
• Saloon – The main living or dining area below deck.
• Scuppers – Drains on the deck that allow water to flow off.
• Seacock – A valve on a hull fitting.
• Sheet – A rope used to control the angle of a sail.
• Shroud – A rope or wire that supports the mast laterally.
• Slip – A docking space for a boat.
• Spinnaker – A large, balloon-like sail used when sailing downwind.
• Spreaders – Horizontal struts attached to the mast to support the shrouds.
• Starboard – The right side of the boat when facing forward.
• Stays – Wires or ropes that support the mast fore and aft.
• Staysail – A sail attached to the stay, running from the mast to the bow.
• Stern – The rear part of the boat.
• Stow – To put away or secure gear.
• Tack – The lower forward corner of a sail; also, to change direction by turning the bow through the wind.
• Telltale – Indicators attached to a sail to show the airflow over the sail.
• Telltales – Small pieces of material on the sails that show the direction of airflow.
• Transom – The flat surface forming the stern of the boat.
• Trim – To adjust the sails for optimal performance.
• True Wind – The actual wind speed and direction, as opposed to apparent wind.
• Underway – When the boat is moving through the water.
• Vang – A rope or tackle used to control the angle of the boom.
• Waypoint – A reference point on a navigation route.
• Weather Helm – A tendency for the boat to turn into the wind.
• Winch – A mechanical device used to haul in or let out ropes.
• Windward – The direction from which the wind is coming.
• Yacht – A large recreational boat.
• Yaw – When the boat swings off course.

These terms cover a broad range of yachting and sailing vocabulary, from basic components to specific maneuvers and navigational practices. We hope they will help you get into safe yachting more easily and quickly!

If you have any ideas on how to improve this list, or perhaps any other suggestions, please let us know in the comments below. Happy yachting! ⛵

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• Understanding the yachting world: Definitions and origins

The world of yachting and sailing is a realm of elegance, adventure, and rich history. However, the terminology surrounding these nautical activities can sometimes be confusing. From the definition of a yacht to the spelling of various sailing-related terms, this article sets out to demystify the language of the seas, offering insight into the origins and meanings of these captivating words.

Decoding the yacht: Definition and origin

A yacht is more than a vessel; it's a symbol of luxury and sophistication. Derived from the Dutch word "jacht," meaning "hunt" or "chase," yachts were initially swift, maneuverable ships used for pursuit. Over time, yachts have evolved into opulent pleasure craft enjoyed by sailing enthusiasts and the elite.

Exploring the nautical term "sailing"

Sailing goes beyond moving through water using wind power; it encapsulates a spirit of exploration and freedom. It's the art of harnessing wind energy to navigate the vast oceans, representing a harmonious relationship between humans and nature.

Read our top notch articles on topics such as sailing, sailing tips and destinations in our Magazine .

Unveiling the word "yacht" and its meaning

The term "yacht" conjures images of sleek vessels gliding gracefully across the water. Its meaning, however, extends beyond aesthetics. A yacht signifies an elegant and luxurious ship, often associated with pleasure and leisure rather than utilitarian purposes.

Yachting in focus: Definition and significance

Yachting is the activity of sailing on a yacht, encompassing both recreational and competitive aspects. It's a way to experience the allure of the open waters while indulging in the comforts and amenities offered by these sophisticated vessels.

The intricacies of yacht pronunciation

The pronunciation of "yacht" varies across regions, with some emphasizing the "ch" sound, while others opt for a softer "y" sound. This linguistic diversity adds an interesting layer to the yachting world, reflecting the global appeal of sailing.

Luxury yacht

Name or yacht? Understanding the terminology

In the yachting community, the term "name yacht" refers to a yacht that is well-known and often carries a reputation. These yachts are associated with luxury, innovation, and the personalities of their owners.

Diving into the origins of yachts

The origin of yachts traces back to the 17th century Netherlands, where they were initially used for naval purposes and later transformed into vessels for recreational sailing. Their evolution mirrors the changing perceptions of sailing from utility to leisure.

Yacht vs. yatch: Spelling matters

The correct spelling is "yacht," and "yatch" is a common misspelling. Spelling accuracy is vital, especially in maritime communication, where precision ensures clear understanding and effective conveyance of information.

Sailing terminology: What is a dinghy?

A dinghy is a small, open boat often used for short trips, transportation between a larger vessel and the shore, or for recreational sailing. Dinghies come in various sizes and are an essential part of sailing activities.

Deciphering "catamaran" and its spelling

A catamaran is a type of boat characterized by two parallel hulls connected by a deck. The spelling is "catamaran," and understanding this term is crucial for discussing and identifying different types of vessels.

Sailing's essence: The word and its meaning

Sailing embodies more than the physical act; it's a metaphor for life's journey. Just as sailors navigate challenges on the water, individuals navigate the currents of their lives, guided by the winds of opportunity and the compass of determination.

The language of yachting and sailing is rich with history and significance. From the definition of a yacht to the meaning of sailing-related terms, understanding these words enhances our appreciation of the maritime world and the timeless allure of the seas.

So what are you waiting for? Take a look at our range of charter boats and head to some of our favourite sailing destinations .

FAQs about definitions and origins

Beginners Yachting Guide

March 24, 2021 By : Administrator

From our Nomad: Life on Water Series

We all dream of a gorgeous luxury vacation at one point or another… someplace where you can feel the sand between your toes, hear the rush of the ocean waves, and simply relax. Maybe your dream includes adventure sports like jet skiing or parasailing, or maybe you’re more interested in simply exploring new destinations. Perhaps you want to float between islands in the teal waters of the Caribbean, or maybe the deep jewel tones of the Mediterranean call to you like a siren song. 

Maybe you’re looking for more than just a vacation, but an entirely new lifestyle…Yachting is the solution. 

Yachts come in all sizes and types and charter for (or book to go to) all kinds of destinations. Yachting can be a luxury vacation, a new lifestyle, or even a new vocation. Yachting is a rich world of exploration and enjoyment for just about anyone (not just the uber wealthy!) 

In this beginner’s yachting guide we will cover all of the basics about yachting including:

What is Yachting?

• History of yachting

Who goes yachting?

Where do yachts go, what kind of yachts exist, what amenities do yachts have, how do i book a yacht, how much does it cost to take a yacht vacation, who crews a yacht, how do i work on a yacht.

• Yachting guide terminology

Safe Yachting Guide

And much, much more. So if you want to uncover all the secrets in the yachting world, let’s dive in to this yachting guide!

One of the most important parts of yachting is staying safe while overseas. We always recommend travel medical insurance that includes adventure sports coverage. To learn more about travel medical insurance and what plans are available, click here!

Yachting is the use of a boat designed for recreation or leisure to cruise or race.

Yachts are boats that differentiate from working boats like shipping or fishing boats because they are specifically tailored to include luxurious amenities and travel to various vacation destinations. 

Boats that are considered yachts can typically house up to twelve guests in staterooms onboard, as well as crew members like deckhands and stewards to keep the boat in “ship shape”, or clean and ready to sail. 

Yachting can be a short charter for a vacation of one or two weeks, or it can be an entire lifestyle. 

History of Yachting

No yachting guide would be complete without a bit of history. While sailing has been around since before recorded history, yachting has its roots in more recent nautical history. 

The first mentions of the word “yacht” appear in reference to boats designed for racing in 17th century europe. Boat racing became the pastime of the royals and the wealthy in England, Holland, France, and Spain. Eventually open ocean yacht racing became popular all the way to America and Australia. 

Yacht races are still commonly held to this day, and include various lengths from crossing small bodies of water all the way up to racing around the world. 

Yachts originally were designed as light, nimble ships in the water custom designed for speed. Their sizes ranged from that of a dinghy to ships that rivaled military battleships. These racing vessels were eventually classified into different sizes resulting in some of the terminology used to describe different ships to this day. 

These days yachts are not only defined as ships designed for racing. In fact, the majority of yachts are not designed for speed at all. Now yachts are known as the height of luxury in life on water, specializing in leisure over work. 

The simple answer? Anyone!

Yachts are designed for so many different types of lifestyles and people that there is no one kind of person that goes yachting. 

These ships are great for people who want to spend some time away from the hustle and bustle of a 9 to 5 job and enjoy being on open water for a few days. Yachts are also great for large families or groups that would like to vacation privately together. Yachts are even good for small families looking to explore many different destinations in one single trip!

As you can see, there is no single group or type to go yachting because each charter is tailor made for the person or group booking the ship. 

Like a tailor-made yachting charter, it’s also important to protect yourself with a tailor-made travel or expatriate medical insurance plan. Learn more about travel medical insurance that includes adventure sports in the video below!

Yachts can go pretty much anywhere where there is relatively smooth sailing water and reasonable access. Depending on their size yachts can be on smaller bodies of water like lakes such as the Ozarks and Great Lakes in the United States, or they can call the entire ocean home and sail around the world regularly. 

According to LuxuryDefined some of the best destinations for yachts include: 

• The French Riviera
• U.S. Virgin Islands
• Palm Beach, Florida
• Costa Smeralda, Italy
• St. George’s Parish, Bermuda 
• Newport, Rhode Island 
• Nantucket, Massachusetts
• Greater Victoria, Vancouver Island

Source: https://christiesrealestate.com/blog/9-of-the-worlds-best-yachting-locations/

Yachts typically have a “season” in which they are most active. Depending on their home harbour, yachts will be most active in the summer months (May- August in the northern hemisphere) or the winter months. Spring and Fall seasons are generally times in which the boat is resting or preparing for the next active season. 

There are many different types of yachts from those that sail exclusively with motors, to those with two hulls called catamarans. Here is a basic yachting guide for the different types of yachts and their definitions: 

Sailing Yacht: a yacht mainly propelled via wind and sails

Motor Yacht: a yacht propelled via one or more motors

Gulet Yacht: a hybrid yacht with both sails and motors

Open Yacht, Cruiser, Cabin Cruiser, Express Cruiser: an otherwise uncategorized standard yacht for cruising and entertaining

Luxury Yacht: a yacht that includes high-end finishes and features and the latest in modern performance technology. The term ‘luxury’ can precede any type of yacht, i.e. “luxury motor yacht”, “luxury sailing yacht”, etc.

Sports Yacht: a yacht geared towards fishing, water sports, or cruising with a sleeker design and more powerful motor for faster cruising speeds. The term ‘sports’ can precede other types of yachts as well, i.e. “sports motor yacht”.

Catamaran Yacht: a yacht with two hulls (pontoons) often made of fiberglass that can be used in shallow waters.

(source: https://vanislemarina.com/when-is-a-boat-a-yacht/ )

As you can see, yachts include a wide variety of types of ships with different methods of propulsion and design. Just like there isn’t one type of person that goes yachting, there isn’t just one type of yacht available. The opportunities and options are boundless when it comes to yachting!

Stay tuned for our next blog article all about sailing and the different types of ships that can be commissioned for vacation, or even a new lifestyle powered by the wind!

Basic yacht charters include provisions (food and consumables) as well as entertainment such as adventure sports equipment like scuba, snorkeling, or other water sports. Many yachts will include lifestyle amenities like wifi, cable TV, pools and jacuzzis, and indoor and outdoor seating or gathering areas to enjoy all the views the yacht will have to offer on charter. 

Amenities are dependent on the yacht itself, so be sure to clarify with your broker what specific amenities you want when booking your vacation, or hiring crew. 

Some of the craziest yacht amenities we’ve heard of include: 

• Tennis Court
• “Nemo Lounge” or underwater observatory
• Drive in Tender Bay
• Outdoor Cinema

(Source: https://luxatic.com/coolest-luxury-yacht-amenities-on-superyachts-that-you-didnt-know-existed/ )

According to boatinternational.com some of the amenities you can expect to be available on different yachts include: 

• Beach Club (water level rear deck)
• Salon Services

And of course, plenty of places to work on a tan.

(Source: https://boatinternational.com/charter/luxury-yacht-charter-advice/a-life-of-leisure-onboard-a-superyacht–1811)

Booking a yacht can seem like a daunting process, especially if you’ve never been before. Well, the experts at International Yacht Charter Group have put together a yachting guide to make it much easier. Here are their steps: 

1. Choose a Yacht Charter Specialist.

Find a specialist who makes you feel comfortable with the process and who willingly seeks your input. This is the best way to ensure you book the ideal charter yacht. Choose a specialist without ties to specific charter yachts; you want information on the whole range of options, not limited to a small “in-house” selection. The specialist should be experienced and very competent so that you will feel confident about your yacht charter booking.

2. Select the Yacht and Destination.

Browse online to start gathering information about all your yacht and destination options. You will choose between motor and sailing yachts as well as what part of the world you want to explore. The specialists at International Yacht Charter Group visit many yachts worldwide each year and have extensive knowledge about what will work best for individual clients.

3. Fill Out Paperwork.

Once the ideal yacht is chosen for the dates you want, it will be reserved with a yacht charter contract between you and the charter yacht owner. Booking a yacht charter is different from reserving a plane ticket or villa! A standardized contract is drawn up, which is then discussed in depth with your specialist. The signed contract and 50% deposit will prevent anyone else from booking the yacht.

4. Prepare to Travel.

Prior to boarding the yacht, your charter specialist and the Captain and crew will prepare the yacht for your vacation. You will have filled out a preference sheet regarding food, wine, and activities (as well as your arrival/departure information). That way the yacht will be provisioned according to your preferred items. The Captain will prepare a draft itinerary for your yacht charter based on your thoughts and ideas, which you are encouraged to discuss via email or phone prior to departure.

Before you depart make sure you purchase travel medical insurance for all travelers that includes emergency evacuation. You can see travel medical and evacuation plans here and get a fast and simple quote simply by clicking on the orange “Quote” button in the top right corner. 

5. Enjoy the Vacation!

While on charter, the Captain and crew are obviously your primary point of contact for questions about activities, meals, etc. Your Captain and crew act as concierge for your land-based adventures and on board activities. It’s recommended to discuss plans in advance whenever possible. Overall, a private yacht charter means there is no fixed itinerary, and typically some plans change en route.

Source: https://internationalyachtchartergroup.com/How-to-book-a-yacht-charter.php

You can contact international Yacht Charter Group to book a yacht by simply filling out their contact form: https://internationalyachtchartergroup.com/contactus/contactus-landing.php

The cost of renting a yacht depends on the size and type of ship, and the kinds of amenities desired in a ship. 

According to worldwideboat.com, “the average weekly cost of a 100-foot sailing yacht is between $50,000-100,000. A weekly 80-foot catamaran charter runs around $40,000-100,000, and a week-long 100-foot motor yacht rental is anywhere between $50,000-80,000.”

A 100-foot yacht will typically comfortably house 12 guests in complete luxury, meaning each person can expect to contribute around $5000 for their week long vacation. While this is quite the luxury vacation, it is priced similarly to a high end all inclusive resort, and less expensive even than some of the high end cruise lines where your vacation is shared with hundreds of people!

If booking a yacht for a vacation isn’t the right choice for you, but you are interested in exploring the world or working on a yacht, this next section is for you!

Yachts can have crews anywhere from a single captain to nearly 100 people. Depending on the size and amenities of the ship, the crew will include many different positions. Yacht crews are divided into four different departments, or categories: deck, interior, engineering, and galley. 

On deck there are different levels of crew, the names of which are classically in the common lexicon including members like the captain, the first mate, and deckhands. 

The people on deck are responsible for the navigation and bridge operation, safety, maintenance of the exterior, communication, and tender and recreation activities. 

The interior department includes stewards and amenity specific positions like bartenders, salon services, masseuses, laundry, and finances. 

Those assigned to the interior are responsible for the service on board, cleaning and maintenance of the cabins and living spaces, event planning and entertainment, and the indoor amenities offered onboard. 

Engineering

The engineering department is responsible for all things related to the engine, electrical system, sanitation and environment control, planned maintenance, and troubleshooting issues on board. 

Engineering generally consists of a smaller department of a chief engineer and either several specialists or simply a 2nd under them. 

The galley department is responsible for all things food and beverage related. This department is always run by the head chef who will place provisional orders and with the help of a sous chef or other cooks will design and prepare a menu specific to the preference sheet of the guests. The galley is also responsible for provisions for the crew most often. 

Getting a job on a yacht starts with appropriate training. Depending on the department or type of work you want to do, the training can vary from a few weeks all the way up to getting licensed as a captain. 

Most deck crew have what is called a 6-pack captains license which allows them to captain the tender, or the smaller boat that takes people to and from the yacht when it is anchored. 

Generally, the interior crew and galley crew are required to have food handlers certifications as they are serving food and alcohol regularly to guests. 

After training, typically you would apply for positions in the months before a season and then maintain a position on a specific vessel for the entire season. Some crew management companies specialize in placement on different types of yachts, but typically the first year or two is spent on smaller vessels. 

Getting into the yachting industry can be difficult as there is always competition due to the shorter seasons of work. Yachting requires workers to be away from home for many weeks at a time as well as includes strenuous physical labor. This means most yacht workers are young, single, and highly independent. 

Before taking off on your new yachting job, make sure you have the right kind of international medical insurance. Learn more about international medical insurance to cover a roaming lifestyle at sea now!

Start your yachting career by searching for specific entry level positions in the department you’re most interested, and be prepared to travel!

Yachting terminology

Want to know more about yachting? Well, this yachting guide includes some terms we’re sure you’ll run into throughout your adventure:

1. Aft – The back of a ship. If something is located aft, it is at the back of the sailboat. The aft is also known as the stern. 

2. Bow – The front of the ship is called the bow. Knowing the location of the bow is important for defining two of the other most common sailing terms: port (left of the bow) and starboard (right of the bow). 

3. Port – Port is always the left-hand side of the boat when you are facing the bow. Because “right” and “left” can become confusing sailing terms when used out in the open waters, port is used to define the left-hand side of the boat as it relates to the bow, or front. 

4. Starboard – Starboard is always the right-hand side of the boat when you are facing the bow. Because “right” and “left” can become confusing sailing terms when used out in the open waters, starboard is used to define the right-hand side of the boat as it relates to the bow, or front. 

5. Tender- a vessel used for servicing and providing support and entertainment to a private or charter yacht. They include utilitarian craft, powered by oar or outboard motor, and high-speed luxury craft, supporting superyachts, powered by inboard engines, some using water-jets.

6. Charter- the practice of renting, or chartering, a sailboat or motor yacht and travelling to various coastal or island destinations. This is usually a vacation activity, but it also can be a business event

Now you know the lingo, it’s time to get off on your adventure!

Whether on crew or on vacation on a yacht, one of the most important things is safety. While yachts are remarkably safe on water, it’s important to always listen to crew members and follow instructions. 

By nature yachts can be slippery due to moisture on deck, difficult to balance due to waves and wind conditions moving the boat, and challenging to move through with smaller hallways and lower ceilings than typically seen on land. 

Before going on any yachting adventure, in addition to a yachting guide, it’s important to make sure you have the right kind of protection in your pocket. That’s where international medical insurance comes into play. 

Protecting yourself with an international medical plan, whether it’s just for a short trip of one or two weeks, or for an entire season offshore, is the most important step you can take to ensure your safety. 

Travel and expatriate medical plans can cover you in the event of injury, illness, trip cancelation, evacuation, and much more. Plans are less expensive than you think starting at less than $1 a day, and you can get up to $1 Million in coverage or more depending on the plan of your choice. 

Your safe yachting starts on dry land with your purchase of the right international insurance plan today. Click “get a quote” to get a quote now for your upcoming vacation, or explore plans by clicking on “plans” in the menu at the top of this page. 

Good Neighbor Insurance is always here to answer any questions you may have and make sure you get the best insurance for your situation. Call our Gilbert, Arizona office at 480-813-9100, or click “chat with us” to get started right away!

Happy yachting!

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Meaning of yachting in English

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• age of sail
• ocean-going
• under sail idiom

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Waterspout Spotted a Luxury Yacht Sinks: What Does It Mean?

A luxury yacht sank off the sicily's cpast. the reason could be a sudden waterspout. what exactly are waterspouts here's everything you need to know..

A sailing yacht sank on Monday. The yacht carried 22 people, including Mike Lynch, the British billionaire off the coast of Sicily. The cause of sinking is still not known. Witnesses say that they observed a waterspout, which is actually a tiny tornado-like column. A violent storm came up, and that is when this waterspout was formed.

Understanding waterspout

Waterspouts are actually columns of moisture and spinning air. The National Weather Service says that these are quite similar to tornadoes.

There are a few distinct forms of waterspouts. One is a risky variety which gets formed downward from a thunderstorm, and another one is the fair weather waterspouts, which get developed in fair weather.

The tornadic waterspouts can either get developed as tornadoes over the land and then move out to sea. Some can also get formed in a storm over a huge body of water, as per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.

The difference between the two is simple. Agencies say that fair weather waterspouts are relatively well. These spread quite quickly and do not lead to any major damage. Tornadic waterspouts are linked with risky lightning,s high winds, and hail.

When the yacht sank, the Italian authorities reported intense lightning and strong winds.

How often can one find waterspouts?

Waterspouts may actually be more common than tornadoes. However, what makes them difficult to track is the fact that oceans are quite vast.

Peter Inness, a meteorologist at the University of Reading, United Kingdom, said, “The Mediterranean is possibly one of the places where waterspouts are most likely around the world due to the warm ocean surface and a climate that is very susceptible to thunderstorms throughout the summer and autumn.”

A 2022 study by scientists from the University of Barcelona suggests that the waterspouts usually come over warmer sea surfaces For about an year, the North Atlantic ocean has been supremely hot for about an year.

The incident

The captain of a nearby boat, Karsten Börner rescued over 15 passengers. The captain expressed in an interview that he viewed the Bayesian over 490 feet away.

It was not easy to see what actually happened amid the storm. “My theory was that she was capsized first and then went down over the stern,” the captain said.

The Bayesian mast was about 237 feet tall. This was one of the tallest aluminium masts in the world. It also had a distinct keel. This keel could be easily raised or lowered, as per Perini Navi, its manufacturer. A keel is actually a downward-extending centerline under a boat that can aid in stabilizing the vessel.

Andrea Ratti, the associate professor of nautical design and architecture technology the Politecnico di Milano, said “In this case, having a tall aluminum mast would not make it the safest port to be in case of a storm.”

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Italian prosecutors open shipwreck and manslaughter investigation into superyacht sinking

Prosecutors in Italy have opened an investigation into culpable shipwreck and multiple manslaughter after a superyacht capsized during a storm off the coast of Sicily

ROME — Prosecutors in Italy said Saturday they have opened an investigation into culpable shipwreck and multiple manslaughter after a superyacht capsized during a storm off the coast of Sicily, killing seven people onboard. They included British tech magnate Mike Lynch and his daughter.

Termini Imerese prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio confirmed the investigation has been launched, but hasn’t identified a suspect.

“We are only in the initial phase of the investigation. We can’t exclude any sort of development at present,” he told reporters at a news conference.

Cartosio said his team will carefully consider each possible element of responsibility, including those of the Bayesian’s captain, the crew, individuals in charge of supervision, the yacht’s manufacturer and others.

“For me, it is probable that offences were committed, that it could be a case of manslaughter, but we can only establish that if you give us the time to investigate,” he said.

The main question investigators are focusing on is how a sailing vessel deemed “unsinkable” by its manufacturer, Italian shipyard Perini Navi, sank while a nearby sailboat remained largely unscathed .

Prosecutors said the event was “extremely rapid” and could have been a “downburst” — localized, powerful wind that descends from a thunderstorm and spreads out rapidly upon hitting the ground.

Initially, civil protection officials said they believe the yacht, which featured a distinctive 75-meter (246-feet) aluminum mast, was struck by a tornado over the water, known as a waterspout.

Investigators were also asked why the crew was almost entirely saved, except for the chef, while six passengers remained trapped in the hull.

Local official confirmed that most of the bodies recovered were found in the same part of the yacht — on the left side and closer to the surface — suggesting that passengers had sought safety in the cabins where the last air bubbles had formed.

Deputy Prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano said it was likely that the passengers were asleep, adding that one of the main focus of the investigation is to ascertain whether they were alerted by someone.

Cammarano confirmed that one person was on watch in the cockpit.

Rescuers on Friday brought ashore the last of seven bodies from the sinking of the Bayesian, a 56-meter (184-foot) British-flagged luxury yacht that went down in a storm near the Mediterranean island in southern Italy early Monday. The sailboat was carrying a crew of 10 people and 12 passengers.

The seventh victim was Hannah Lynch, 18, the daughter of Mike Lynch. , whose body was recovered Thursday. He had been celebrating his recent acquittal on fraud charges with his family and the people who had defended him at trial in the United States. His wife, Angela Bacares, was among the 15 survivors.

Rescuers struggled for four days to find all the bodies, making only slow headway through the interior of the wreck lying on the seabed 50 meters (164 feet) below the surface.

Prosecutors said the recovery of the Bayesian will be crucial for the investigation, but noted it will be a long and complex process, which will be paid for by the owners.

The other five victims are Christopher Morvillo, one of Lynch’s U.S. lawyers, and his wife, Neda; Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley’s London-based investment banking subsidiary, and his wife, Judy; and Recaldo Thomas, the yacht’s chef.