N AVIGATIONAL V OCABULARY

adrift	the boat is not under power.
avast	stop
ballast	weight in lower part of ship, added to help stability
bearing	direction ship is heading
boatswain	('bosun') man in charge of deckhands and gear. Under the mates in rank.
buoy	a float anchored from mooring for navigation
chains	a small platform on either side of the ship from which the leadsman heaves the lead
chart	a navigational map
chip log	device used to measure the speed of a ship in knots
chronometer	a very accurate shipboard clock.
deadeye	a circular block; part of a ship's rigging; the original name of a dead-man's-eye arose from the remarkable resemblance of these blocks, with their three holes to a human skull
forecastle	('foc'sle') living quarters for seamen and the bow cabin on older sailing vessels.
galley	kitchen
heave	to pull a line
journal	a personal daily record of events kept by midshipmen and officers
kedging	the original word was cagger, an early derivation of catch ie. to catch the ground
lead line	device used to measure the depth of the ocean
log	1) the name given to any device used to measure the speed of the vessel through the water or the distance sailed in a given time 2) the short name by which the log book or deck log is generally known; a compulsory document which must be kept by all ships; information related to the navigation of the ship, the organization of her crew, and all other relevant activities on board are recorded in it
midshipman	midshipmen were young men in training as naval officers
midships	refers to the middle of the vessel
port	the left hand side of the ship as seen from aft
rigging	all ropes, wires or chains used in ships and smaller vessels in supporting the masts and yards and for hoisting, lowering, or trimming sails to the wind
sextant	device used to find your latitude and longitude.
ship's boat	small boat used to explore in shallower waters, or for escape; carried by larger vessels; used to set and retrieve anchors, tow the ship in calms, transfer cargo and passengers, provide ship to ship and ship to shore contact, to serve as lifeboats and to conduct fishing and provisioning expeditions
soundings	the name given to the depth of water obtained by the lead line or an electronic depth sounder.
starboard	the right hand side of the ship as seen from aft

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