Atlantic Maritime Academy

“Sabby the Lingo?”  Maritime Language – IXX

• Q Flag, Quarantine Flag - The Quebec pennant is flown when first entering a country, indicating that the people on the ship are healthy and that the vessel wants permission to visit the country. The flag means "My vessel is healthy and I request free pratique.
• Quadrant - (1) A nautical instrument, on the arc of which is a finely graduated scale showing degrees and minutes, with adjustable reflectors, etc.; used to find the altitude of heavenly bodies, angular distances, etc. (2) On a steering gear, the rudder quadrant is a section of a wheel or sheave fastened to the rudder head.
• Quarantine - A harbor restriction placed on a ship which has an infectious disease on board, or which has arrived from a country where such a disease is prevalent. The crew may not go ashore until the ship is granted pratique.

• Quarter - (1) That portion of the vessel forward of the stern and abaft of the beam. "On the quarter" applies to a bearing 45º abaft the beam. Every boat has a starboard and a port quarter. (2) Mercy shown to captives or enemies, such as giving quarter to the passengers of a seized vessel. ¹
• Quarter Berth - A bunk which runs under the cockpit
• Quarter Boat - Boat carried at davits on quarter of ship, and kept ready for immediate use when at sea.
• Quarter Spring - Line led forward, from quarter of a vessel, to prevent her from moving astern.
• Quarterdeck - The part of the upper deck which is abaft the mainmast, or in that general location of a ship without one. The quarterdeck was normally reserved for officers.
• Quartering Sea - Winds and waves on a boat's quarter
• Quartermaster - An able-bodied seamen entrusted with the steering of a vessel when entering or leaving a harbor. He is also involved with the use and upkeep of navigational equipment.
• Quarters - Living space for the crew.
• Quay - A solid wharf or structure built of stone along the edge of a harbor used for loading and offloading of cargo, and embarkation and disembarkation of passengers.
• Queen Topsail - Small staysail located between the foremast and mainmast.
• Quick Flashing Light - A navigational aid with a light that flashes about once per second.

• Race - (1) A strong, confused tide or current. (2) A competition of skill and seamanship between yachts.
• Rack - The operation of temporarily holding two lines together by seizing.
• Radiation Fog - Fog over land caused by condensation of vapor in the air above cooler ground.
• Radio Beacon - A navigational aid that emits radio waves for navigational purposes. The radio beacon's position is known and the direction of the radio beacon can be determined by using a radio direction finder.
• Radio Direction Finder (RDF) - A navigational instrument which provides a bearing to a radio beacon.

• Radome - A bun-shaped cover placed over a radar scanner to prevent risk of fouling and to protect it from the weather.
  
• Rafting - (1) When two or more boats tie up alongside each other. (2) Overlapping of edges of two ice-floes, so that one floe is partly supported by the other.
  
• Rail - (1) The edge where the deck joins the hull; top edge of bulwarks. (2) The railing around the deck.
  
• Range - (1) Sighting two objects in a line to indicate a course to be steered (2) The distance a boat can travel using the fuel stored aboard.
  
• Rap Full - As close to the wind as possible, with all sails full, and no wrinkles in them.
  
• Ratlines - Small lines tied between the shrouds that form steps to function as a ladder to climb the rigging.
  
• Reach - (1) A point of sail between close-hauled and a run, with the wind coming from abeam. (2) A distance, or fetch. (3) Straight stretch of water between two bends in a river or channel.
  
• Reaching - Any point of sail with the wind coming from the side of the boat. If the wind is coming from directly over the side, it is a beam reach. If the wind is coming from forward of abeam it is a close reach. If the wind is coming from over the quarter, it is called a broad reach.
  
• Ready About - An expression used to the crew to indicate that the boat is about to tack.
  
• Reef - (1) The rolled up part of a sail, tied with the reef lines, that is used to reduce sail area for heavy winds; To reduce the sail area. (2) A group of rocks or coral generally at a depth shallow enough to present a hazard to navigation.