A-Bracket A metal bracket which supports a propeller shaft beneath the hull, just ahead of the propeller.In form it is more like a V than an inverted A. A single-legged…
David Read
B
B Flag The single-letter signal means, ‘I am taking in, or discharging or carrying dan¬gerous goods’. The flag is a plain red swallow-tail and you will see it on vessels…
C
C (letter) In the International Code of Signals the single letter C means Yes (or AffIrm¬ative). Charlie in the phonetic alphabet -0-0 in Morse code. Cabin cruiser Invariably a powered…
D
D (Delta) The single-letter signal means, ‘Keep clear of me; I am manoeuvring with difficulty’. Few yachtsmen are likely to make it, if only because they would hardly find time…
E
E (Echo) In the International Code of Signals the single letter E means, ‘I am altering my course to starboard’. Echo in the phonetic alphabet, and just a single dot…
F
Fixed (On charts, though for the most part I am omitting chart abbreviations.) Foxtrot In the International Code of Signals the single letter F means, ‘I am disabled; communicate with…
G
G – Golf In the International Code of Signals the single letter G means, ‘1 require a pilot’, and may be made by flag or any other method of signalling.…
H
H – Hotel In the International Code H means, ‘[ have a pilot on board’. It is a commonly¬made single-letter signal since a ship normally flies the H flag whenever…
I
I – India As a single-letter signal in the International Code it means, ‘f am altering my course to port’, and as such is more often given by sound than…
J
Juliet As a single-letter signal it means, ‘I am on fIre and have dangerous cargo on board; keep well clear of me’. In the Morse code it is .– and…
K
K flag K As a flag, or flashed in Morse code, -0-, it means, ‘I wish to communicate with you’. In the phonetic alphabet it is Kilo, pronounced ‘key-low’. Kedge…
L
L – Lima If someone flashes this at you in Morse code, .- •• it means, ‘You should stop your vessel immediately’. For radio-telephone work it is Lima, with the…
M
M – Mike (phonetic) Two dashes in Morse code, and means, ‘My vessel is stopped and making no way through the water’ in the International Code. Mike in phonetic M…
N
N – November (phonetic) Means ‘no’ or negative when made as a single-letter signal. Dash dot in Morse code, and November in phonetic. Nacelle A word deriving from the Latin…
O
Oscar (phonetic) As a single-letter signal, means ‘Man overboard’. It is three dashes in the Morse code, and Oscar in phonetic Oakum Teased-out fibres of old hemp rope which are…
P
P Flag P, the Blue Peter, is one of the best-known flags ashore and afloat. Its principal meaning when flown by a ship is, ‘about to proceed to sea ‘.…
Q
Q Flag The single-letter signal means, ‘My vessel is healthy and I request a free pratique’. The Q flag is flown on entering a foreign port, or returning home from…
R
Romeo (phonetic) Romeo in the phonetic and .-. in Morse. No meaning in the International Code. Race A fast-running stream or current, usually caused by the tide and occurring where…
S
Sierra (Phonetic) Sound signals – One to starboard, two to port, and three astern. The single letter S means, ‘My engines are going astern’, thus matching three hoots nearly (and…
T
T – tango T – tango 1) The single-letter signal means, ‘Keep clear of me, I am engaged in pair trawling’. This is an important signal for pleasure-craft skippers, and…