V Signalled by any means, this one letter tells the world, ‘I require assistance’, Compare with W, and also note that this is not a signal of dire distress (as the letters NC would be). In Morse code V is ••• – and in phonetic, Victor.

A form of resin infusion that makes use of a vacuum.

Automatic steering gear which holds the boat at a constant angle to the Apparent wind. The vane senses the wind direction and actuates the tiller so as to correct any deviation from the pre-set relationship between boat’s head and wind direction. In some cases the vane acts directly on the tiller, in others it acts through a Servo rudder or tab. Both the latter are underwater surfaces which, when displaced to a small angle by the wind vane, apply the power of the water flow to the task of moving the tiller. There are many permutations of vane gear.

A rope attached to the upper end of a Gaff or a Sprit so that it can be pulled towards the centreline of the boat to reduce twist in the sail. By analogy, a fore-guy which is rigged to prevent a boom swinging aft when running, with a danger of a gybe, may also be called a boom-vang.

A propeller the pitch of whose blades can be controlled while under way. That much is fairly obvious, but more careful observation reveals that most VP props are also reversible, with the range of pitch extending from coarse ahead to coarse astern. An extension of the idea is the VP prop which also feathers, in that the blade pitch goes beyond any usefully propulsive angle to the point where the blades are edge-on to the water flow and the drag while sailing is minimised. The conventional VP and reversing prop turns always in the same direction, requires no reverse gearbox, and should permit fine control of thrust by varying blade pitch without changing the throttle setting.

Charts are drawn with North towards the earth’s geographical north pole, but the Magnetic pole is not in the same place. Thus over most of the world’s surface a compass needle will point to east or west of the true pole, and the angular difference between that heading and true north is called the variation. Furthermore, the magnetic poles (North and South) do not remain in the same spots, but move slowly at a predictable rate. Fortunately the variation, and the yearly rate of change, is shown on charts, and there is no more difficulty in allowing for the difference between ‘magnetic’ and ‘true’ than there is in allowing for a watch which reads fast or slow. So don’t allow the ‘experts’ to frighten you, nor to obliterate common sense with mumbo-jumbo. Just look and see what it says on the chart. (See also: Deviation.)

A vector is, for our purposes, a line drawn on a chart. Its length is proportionate to a distance travelled and its direction on the chart corresponds to the actual direction of movement. A vector diagram combines two such lines, for example the southward movement of a vessel over the sea, and the simultaneous eastward movement of the sea itself, to produce a resultant.

A vector is, for our purposes, a line drawn on a chart. Its length is proportionate to a distance travelled and its direction on the chart corresponds to the actual direction of movement. A vector diagram combines two such lines, for example the southward movement of a vessel over the sea, and the simultaneous eastward movement of the sea itself, to produce a resultant.

A form of hull the two halves of whose bottom meet at the keel in a shallow V. Most such hulls are in fact what is more commonly called Hard chine, as in Sharpies.

1) To payout a rope or cable – especially of anchor chain.

Veer, to (2) The wind veers when it shifts in a clockwise direction – for example it veers from south to west. Conversely, it Backs when it shifts anti-clockwise, from west to south.

Obselete: a trade name for a neat, effective and economical anemometer

Wave height of 9 to 14 m.

Named after the inventor, Very, this is a flare which is projected to a goodly height from a special pistol.

Moving at more than 45 knots.

Wave height of 4 to 6 m.

Under the Collision Regulations a ‘vessel’ is defined as ‘every description of water craft, including non-displacement craft and seaplanes, used, or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water’.

(See Coding).

Very high frequency radio transmissions, used mainly for radiotelephony, and effective over moderate ranges only

A warning on a chart to be vigilant for a possible danger, not exactly specified nor even certain to exist. Reported potential dangers, which may or may not exist and whose position is doubtful, are themselves called vigia.

A type of resin that, in its structural qualities and resistance to water absorption, is between polyester and epoxy

Winds of force 11 (56-63 knots).

Velocity made good to windward. In trying to make to windward the helmsman must achieve the best balance between speed through the water and direction of motion. He may point higher, but at the cost of some loss in speed. He may sail faster, but farther off the wind. The best compromise results in the best Vmg.

Variable Range Marker. Used in radar to measure the distance to a target.