Cast off

To let go a mooring line when departing a dock, mooring, or other vessel.

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Related C-terms

Clew

The aft lower corner of a fore-and-aft sail; on a mainsail it is tensioned by the outhaul,…

Close hauled

The point of sail nearest the wind, with sails sheeted hard in toward the centreline so th…

Chartplotter

An electronic display that overlays the vessel's GPS position on digital charts, and often…

Coaming

A raised lip around the edge of the cockpit or a hatch, designed to keep out water.

Catboat

A simple rig with a single mainsail stepped on an unstayed mast set well forward, with no …

Chainplates

Heavy metal fittings, through-bolted to the hull structure, that anchor the lower ends of …

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