Pay out

To let out or surrender a line in a controlled way.

Test your knowledge

Know your nautical terms? Play the free SkipperCheck daily maritime quiz — COLREGs, navigation, VHF radio, seamanship. Earn points, climb the global leaderboard.

Play the Daily Quiz →

Related P-terms

Point

(1) To sail close to the wind. (2) A legacy unit of compass direction equal to 11¼° (32 po…

Parasailor

A proprietary symmetric downwind sail with a horizontal aerofoil slot through the middle, …

Port tack

Sailing with the wind coming over the port side; under the COLREGs, a port-tack vessel nor…

Prevailing wind

The statistically dominant wind direction for a region or season.

Points of sail

The classification of a boat's course relative to the wind — close-hauled, close reach, be…

Puff

A short-lived increase in wind strength.

← Back to full glossary