Commonly Used Superyacht Terminology

Superyacht terminology

A

AFT – In direction of the back (stern) of the vessel.

AFT DECK – One or more decks located on the back (stern) of the boat.

AMIDSHIPS – In the middle of the vessel, regardless of which deck.

ANCHORAGE – A location ideal for anchoring a sea vessel.

APA – Advance Provisioning Allowance – APA is a sum needed for provisions, paid to your yacht captain before the start of the charter. This allowance includes necessities like fuel, port fees and drinks. Your yacht`s purser will handle the accounts for the duration of the charter and inform the primary guest of any extra expenditures; any amount still left over will be refunded.

ASTERN – The direction toward or beyond the back of the boat (stern).

AWEIGH – An anchor that is off the bottom.

B

BASE CHARTER RATE – The amount needed to cover the expenses for the yacht and crew. This does not include provisioning or other expenses such as food, fuel, dockage and tip.

BERTH – A place to dock or tie the yacht on a fixed anchoring position, usually in a marina or on a seaside promenade.

BERTH – A bed on a yacht

BEAM – The maximum width of the yacht.

BEACH CLUB – A spot on a yacht located on the back, used to enjoy the water as close as possible. Also, a perfect place to enjoy water toys.

BOSUN – An officer in charge of the deck crew.

BOW – The forward-facing part of a yacht.

BRIDGE – The place from where a yacht captain navigates; see also HELM.

BULKHEAD – A vertical partition that separates compartments in a yachts hull.

BAREBOAT – A yacht for rent without any crew, or only with a skipper.

C

CAST OFF – To start a sea voyage.

CATAMARAN – A twin-hulled sea vessel, with hulls connected parallel to each other, which gives more space and buoyancy than in more conventional designs.

COURSE – The direction in which a yacht is cruising.

CHARTER YACHT – A yacht that is available for rent.

CREW- The group of professional sea-farers that operate a yacht.

CYBA – Charter Yacht Broker Association.

D

DEAD AHEAD – Directly in front of a vessel.

DECK – A `floor` or a level of a yacht; bigger yachts have a bigger number of decks, but the usual configuration includes lower deck, main deck and upper deck, which can then take the form of a sundeck, flybridge, sky lounge or a combination of latter three.

DINGHY – See TENDER.

DISPLACEMENT – The weight of a yacht calculated by how much water a yachts hull displaces.

DOCK – A protected water area in which yachts can berth. A dock can be `wet` or `dry`, depending on if the yacht is in water or on dry land.

DOUBLE CABIN – a cabin on a yacht featuring a double berth

E

EMBARK- to enter a yacht; to climb aboard a yacht; (DIS)EMBARK -to leave a yacht, usually on a dock

F

FENDER – A rubber cushion that prevents direct collision between multiple yachts or a yacht and a pier.

FIRST MATE – A crew member that is ranked second after the captain.

FLYBRIDGE – An exterior helm station, raised above the main deck of a yacht. It provides a clear line of sight and enables the captain to steer the yacht.

G

GALLEY – The kitchen on a yacht, usually located on the main deck or the lower deck.

GANGWAY – An area on one side of a yacht, used for embarking and disembarking.

H

HATCH – An opening in a boat deck fitted with a watertight cover.

HEAD – Another term for a toilet.

HEADING – The direction in which a yacht is cruising.

HELM – The wheel that controls the rudder; steering the helm determines the heading.

HELM STATION – See WHEELHOUSE.

HULL – The main body of a yacht, typically the one that is in contact with the water.

I

ITINERARY – A planned route that a yacht will travel on a specific charter holiday. It is planned in advance, but not set in stone; versatility and flexibility should be maintained, for the sake of guests and weather conditions.

K

KEEL – The backbone of a yacht.

KNOT – A measurement of speed used on sea vessels. One knot is equal to 6070 feet per hour or 1.8 km/h.

L

LAZARETTE – A storage space that is located on a yacht`s stern.

M

MARINA – A place where sea vessels can moor and access services like water, fuel and provisions.

MAST – The central vertical pole that supports the sails on a sailing yacht.

MASTER CABIN- the most luxurious and biggest cabin on a yacht, designated for the owner or the primary charter guest

MONOHULL – A sea vessel with one hull. Opposite to a twinhull vessel, like a catamaran, or a multihull vessel, like a trimarine.

MYBA – the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association.

P

PASSERELLE – The walkway that allows guests to board the yacht from a dock.

PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE – A life-jacket used to keep a person afloat

POWER CATAMARAN – A catamaran or a twinhull powered by an engine, rather than a sail.

PREFERENCE SHEET – A short series of questions that allows guests to specify their preferences regarding food and drink before the charter starts. It allows the crew to be informed about allergies and favourite foods, as well as beverages and entertainment.

PULLMAN (BERTH) – A berth that is located above another single berth. It pulls out, remaining hidden and out of sight when not in use, creating a potential bunk-bed arrangement.

R

RUDDER – A vertical plate or board for steering a boat.

S

SAILING YACHT – A yacht whose primary method of propulsion is sailing. Nearly all sailing yachts have engines in addition to their sails.

STABILIZERS – An amenity on a yacht that helps to prevent a yacht from rolling dynamically. These are particularly useful in bad weather.

STARBOARD – The right side of a yacht when looking towards the bow.

STERN – The backside of a yacht.

SWIM PLATFORM – Sometimes synonymous with the beach club. This space is used to enter the sea via a swim ladder.

SAILING YACHT – A yacht that uses the power of wind and sail to move through the water

SKY LOUNGE – An interior area on a yacht`s elevated deck. The space is primarily used for fun activities, like a yacht cinema, cocktail parties or socialising after dining.

SUNDECK – An open area on a yacht designated for sunbathing, usually equipped with added features like parasails, bimini, wet bar or comfortable sunbed or sun chairs.

SUPERSTRUCTURE – A part of a yacht attached to the hull; anything that is not the lower deck is considered to be part of a superstructure.

T

TENDER – A small boat that a yacht carries, primarily used for visits to shore, but also as a crucial part of many towable water toys.

TWIN CABIN – A cabin in a yacht that features two single-sized berths in different arrangements. Often, twin cabins are equipped with Pullman berths also.

V

VHF – Very high frequency.

VIP CABIN – The second-best cabin on a yacht charter.

VAT – Value-added tax; a tax charged for booking yachts in Europe.

W

WHEELHOUSE- A place from where a yacht captain steers the yacht.

Y

YACHT – A pleasure sea vessel.

Z

ZERO-SPEED STABILIZERS – The best and most technologically advanced stabilizers, that keep the yacht from rolling, both when at anchor or underway.