Anchor windlass

An electric or manual winch mounted on the foredeck that hauls and lowers the anchor chain or rode, typically with a gypsy for chain and a drum for warp.

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Related A-terms

Aboard

On, onto, or inside the vessel.

AIS-MOB

A personal AIS man-overboard beacon that, when activated (usually automatically on immersi…

Astern

In the water behind the vessel, or moving backwards.

Asymmetric spinnaker

A downwind sail (also called a cruising chute or gennaker) with a fixed tack but no pole, …

AIS

Automatic Identification System — a VHF-based transponder network that continuously broadc…

Abeam

Lying on a line perpendicular to the vessel's centerline — directly off her side.

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