Made, Made Good, Magnetic Azimuth, Magnetic Bearing, Magnetic Compass,
Magnetic Course, Magnetic Declination, Magnetic Deviation,
Magnetic Direction, Magnetic Field, Magnetic Meridian, Magnetic North,
Magnetic Pole, Magnetic Variation, Main Mast, Mainsail, Mainsheet,
Make Fast, Make Way, Making Way, Man-Overboard-Procedure, Marconi Rig,
Marina, Marine, Marine Fouling, Marine Growth, Marine Yarn, Mariner,
Maritime, Maritime Law, Mark, Marl, Marline, Marline Hitch, Marline Spike,
Marling Hitch, Marlinspike, Marlinspike Sailor, Marlinspike Seamanship,
Mast, Mast Bed, Mast Boot, Masthead, Masthead Light, Masthead Rig,
Mast Heel, Mast Slot, Mast Step, Mast Tangs, Mast Track, Mate, Mayday,
Mean-Low-Water, Mean-Lower-Low-Water, Mean-Sea-Level, Mean-Tide-Level,
Measured Mile, Meathooks, Mediterranean Berth, Mediterranean Mooring,
Meon Anchor, Mercator, Mercator Projection, Meridian, Messenger,
Mid-Channel Buoy, Midships, Millibar, Minute, Mizzen, Mizzen Mast,
Mizzen Sail, Mizzen Staysail, Monkey Fist, Monohull, Moor, Moored,
Mooring, Mooring Buoy, Mooring Field, Mooring Line, Motley,
Motor Sailor, Mouse, Mousing, Multihull, Mushroom Anchor.
MADE
The term "Made" is used by the crew to indicate that an action or
procedure has been successfully completed.
[e.g., The Foredeck Crew must yell, "Made" after completing the
Dip-Pole-Jibe Maneuver before Helm can safely execute the Jibe.]
MADE GOOD
(See DISTANCE-MADE-GOOD)
MAGNETIC AZIMUTH
Azimuth determined from Magnetic North or Magnetic South.
(Also, see MAGNETIC DIRECTION)
MAGNETIC BEARING
The Compass Bearing of a point relative to that of the nearest
Magnetic Pole (North or South), and corrected for Deviation.
MAGNETIC COMPASS
A Compass with a magnetized needle that points toward the nearest
Magnetic Pole (North or South).
MAGNETIC COURSE
A Course whose Bearing is given relative to the Magnetic Meridian,
correcting for Compass Deviation and Compass Variation.
(Also, see COMPASS COURSE)
MAGNETIC DECLINATION
(See VARIATION)
MAGNETIC DEVIATION
(See COMPASS DEVIATION)
MAGNETIC DIRECTION
Direction as indicated by a Magnetic Compass after correction for
Compass Deviation but without correction for Compass Variation.
MAGNETIC FIELD
The condition of space near or surrounding a magnet or an electric
current, that results in a force that effects another magnetic
instrument such as a Compass.
(Also, see MAGNETIC MERIDIAN)
MAGNETIC MERIDIAN
A line of magnetic force on the earth's surface, in the direction of the
horizontal component of the earth's Magnetic Field, along which the
Magnetic Compass needle comes to rest when not disturbed by other
external Magnetic Fields.
(Also, see TRUE MERIDIAN)
MAGNETIC NORTH
North as indicated by a Magnetic Compass, differing in most places
from True North.
MAGNETIC POLE
Either the North Pole or the South Pole.
MAGNETIC VARIATION
The difference between Magnetic North and True North which is
measured by determining the angle between the geographic North Pole
and the Magnetic Meridian at a given point, expressed in plus degrees
East and minus degrees West of True North.
MAIN MAST
The vertical pole or Spar, stepped forward on a Fore-And-Aft Sailing
Vessel, stabilized by Stays and to which the Boom and Mainsail are
attached.
MAINSAIL
[Pronounced "Main´sîl"]
The Sail attached to the Main Mast.
MAINSHEET
The Line used to control the Mainsail.
MAKE FAST
(Bend, Hold Fast, Made Fast)
To attach a Line or Rope to something so that it is Secure.
MAKE WAY
(Making Way)
A Vessel moving Through-The-Water under controlled power.
(Also see CARRY WAY and UNDER WAY)
MAKING WAY
(See MAKE WAY)
MAN-OVERBOARD-PROCEDURE
(See CREW-OVERBOARD-PROCEDURE)
MARCONI RIG
(Bermudan Rig)
The most common Fore-And-Aft Mainsail shape used today, which is
triangular, with one Boom at the Foot of the Sail. This Rig was
named after Guglielmo Marconi in the 1920's because the Mast, with
its height and Shrouds, resembled the tall radio towers he invented.
MARINA
A boat service area where fuel, water, and Slips are provided.
MARINE
Pertaining to the Sea and Maritime activity characteristic of a Sailor.
MARINE FOULING
(Marine Growth)
Marine organisms, such as Algae, Barnacles, and other slime, that become
attached to the Hull.
MARINE GROWTH
(See MARINE FOULING)
MARINE YARN
(See SAILING TWINE)
MARINER
Another term for Sailor.
MARITIME
Pertaining to the Nautical.
MARITIME LAW
(Law-Of-The-Sea)
The body of law relating to Maritime commerce, Navigation, and
other Maritime matters in general.
MARK
1. One of a series of Buoys used to lay out a Sailboat race course.
2. Any of the distinctive indicators on a Lead Line or Anchor Rode
expressing the length of the Line at the measured point.
3. An Aid-To-Navigation (ATON).
MARL
To twist Sailing Twine around larger Lines, every turn secured by a Hitch.
MARLINE
Small twine (usually two-fiber strand) used for Whipping, Seizing,
and Lashing larger Lines.
(Also, see SAILING TWINE)
MARLINE HITCH
(See MARLING HITCH)
MARLINE SPIKE
(Marlinspike)
A pointed metal implement used to separate the strands of a Rope or
wire in splicing.
(Also, see FID)
MARLING HITCH
(Marline Hitch)
A Half Hitch that is repeated at intervals along a Spar.
[e.g., When Mooring the Sailboat, and the Sails are Doused,
Securing the Mainsail to the Boom with a Marling Hitch.]
MARLINSPIKE
(See MARLINE SPIKE)
MARLINSPIKE SAILOR
A Sailor who is proficient with Knots, Seizing, Splicing, and
the handling of Lines.
MARLINSPIKE SEAMANSHIP
(See MARLINSPIKE SAILOR)
MAST
(Stick)
A long vertical Spar rising above the Hull of a Sailing Vessel used to
Set Sails, Rigging, Booms, lights, and weather measuring devices.
MAST BED
A construction in a wooden Deck encasing the opening for a Mast.
MAST BOOT
A protective cover wrapped around the Mast at Deck level on a
Keel Stepped boat to prevent water from seeping down the Mast
and into the boat.
MASTHEAD
The top of a Mast.
MASTHEAD LIGHT
(Steaming Light)
The white light at the top of the Mast and visible from the front of
the boat within an arc of 225°. The Masthead Light should be used
only when the engine on the Sailboat is engaged. When it is Under
Sail and without engine power, the Masthead Light should be off.
(Also, see ANCHOR LIGHT)
MASTHEAD RIG
A Sloop Rig where the Forestay is attached to the Masthead.
(Also, see FRACTIONAL RIG and THREE-QUARTER RIG)
MAST HEEL
(Heel)
The bottom or lower end of the Mast, which fits into a Mast Step.
MAST SLOT
(Grooved Spar)
The groove formed in the Aft edge of the Main Mast of a Fore-And-Aft
Sailing Vessel into which the Mainsail Luff Cord or Lugs are placed
for Hoisting and Securing the Leading Edge of the Mainsail.
(Also, see MAST TRACK)
MAST STEP
A stainless steel seat (on Deck or at the Keel) into which
the Mast Heel fits.
MAST TANGS
(Tangs)
Fittings on the Mast to which the Stays are attached.
MAST TRACK
(Sail Track)
An external track on the Aft edge of the Main Mast of a Fore-And-Aft
Sailing Vessel onto which external Mainsail Track Lugs are mounted
for Hoisting and Securing the leading edge of the Mainsail.
(Also, see MAST SLOT)
MATE
An assistant to the Captain.
[e.g., The 1st Mate takes over the Captain’s duties when the Captain
is absent or incapacitated; at the same time, the 2nd Mate takes
over the duties of the 1st Mate, while the 3rd Mate takes over
the 2nd Mate’s duties.]
MAYDAY
An internationally recognized distress signal used by a
Vessel-In-Distress to call shore stations or other
Vessels for help because of a life threatening
situation Aboard, such as when a Vessel is sinking.
[NOTE: A Mayday signal has priority over any other transmission.]
(Also, see PAN PAN and SECURITE)
MEAN-LOW-WATER
(MLW)
The average Low Tide in a Tidal region where only one High Tide
and one Low Tide occur per Solar Day.
(Also, see DIURNAL)
MEAN-LOWER-LOW-WATER
(MLLW)
The average of the lowest of Low Tides in a Tidal Region where
two High Tides and two Low Tides occur per Solar Day.
(Also, see SEMI-DIURNAL)
MEAN-SEA-LEVEL
(MSL)
The arithmetic mean of hourly tidal heights.
(Also, see MEAN-TIDE-LEVEL)
MEAN-TIDE-LEVEL
(Half-Tide Level)
The arithmetic mean of Mean-High-Water (MHW) and Mean-Low-Water(MLW).
(Also, see SEA LEVEL)
MEASURED MILE
A Course marked by Buoys or fixed Marks measuring one Nautical Mile.
Used to calibrate Logs.
MEATHOOKS
Sailor slang describing loose cable strands or wires that stick out
and hook into unsuspecting fingers.
MEDITERRANEAN BERTH
Docking a boat Stern first.
MEDITERRANEAN MOORING
Set Anchor, back the boat toward Shore, and tie off, Stern-To.
MEON ANCHOR
(See DANFORTH ANCHOR)
MERCATOR
Pertaining to the principles of a Mercator Projection.
MERCATOR PROJECTION
A conformal projection on which any Rhumb Line is represented as a
straight vertical line rather than lines that intersect at the Poles.
MERIDIAN
(See LONGITUDE)
(Also, see RHUMB LINE)
MESSENGER
A small Line used to pull a heavier Line or cable.
(Also, see HEAVING LINE)
MID-CHANNEL BUOY
(Fairway Buoy)
A Buoy with red and white vertical stripes and one red spherical
topmark that marks the center of a Channel during the day. At
night, the Mid-Channel Buoy displays a white occulting light
every ten seconds.
(Also, see AID TO NAVIGATION)
MIDSHIPS
(See AMIDSHIPS)
MILLIBAR
A term expressing the unit of measure of Atmospheric Pressure.
1 millibar equals 0.03 inches of mercury.
MINUTE
1. One sixtieth of an hour.
2. One sixtieth of one degree when determining a Nautical location.
[e.g., One minute of Latitude is equivalent to one Nautical Mile.]
MIZZEN
(See MIZZEN SAIL)
MIZZENMAST
(Jiggermast)
The shorter Mast Set Aft the Foremast on a Ketch or Yawl.
MIZZEN SAIL
(Mizzen)
A Fore-And-Aft Sail Set on the Mizzenmast of a Ketch or Yawl.
MIZZEN STAYSAIL
A small triangular Sail Set between the Foremast and Mizzenmast
of a Ketch or Yawl.
MONKEY FIST
A large heavy Knot made at the end of a Heaving Line, used as an aid
for accurate throwing.
MONOHULL
A boat that has only one Hull.
(Also, see MULTIHULL)
MOOR
To Secure a Vessel to an Anchor, Pier, or Mooring Buoy.
MOORED
When a Vessel is tied to an Anchor, Pier, or Mooring Buoy.
MOORING
An Anchor, Buoy, or Pier to which a boat is Secured when not Sailing.
MOORING BUOY
A Buoy attached to a heavy Anchor used for Mooring Vessels.
MOORING FIELD
Buoys set in an area of water near an inland Shore for Mooring boats.
MOORING LINE
A heavy Line used to Secure a Vessel to a Mooring.
(Also, see HAWSER)
MOTLEY
A term indicating diversity, such as an heterogeneous Crew.
MOTOR SAILER
(Fifty-Fifty)
Usually a long Keel Sailing Vessel of heavy displacement, with
the Auxiliary engine providing the power for about fifty
percent (50%) of the Cruise.
MOUSE
(Mousing)
Tying a Line such that it will not come undone, as when attaching
a Line to a hook.
MOUSING
(See MOUSE)
(Also, see SEIZING)
MULTIHULL
Any boat with more than one Hull, such as a Catamaran.
MUSHROOM ANCHOR
A stockless Anchor having an inverted mushroom-shaped head, used
chiefly for semi-permanent Mooring in mud and other soft ground.
