Observer's Meridian, Observed Position, Obstruction, Occulting Light,
Ocean, Ocean Floor, Offshore, Offshore Wind, Off-The-Wind, Old Salt,
On-Board, On-The-Beam, On-The-Bow, On-The-Bowline, On-The-Quarter,
On-The-Wind, Ooch, Open Water, Order, Oscillation, Outhaul, Out-Of-Trim,
Outrigger, Overall Length, Overboard, Overfall, Overhand Knot, Overhang,
Override, Overtaking Situation, Over-The-Ground.
OBSERVER'S MERIDIAN
Longitudinal position where the observed Heavenly Body attains its Zenith.
OBSERVED POSITION
A Fix determined at Sea from observing Heavenly Bodies and
deriving two position lines (LOP)s on a Chart.
OBSTRUCTION
Any object or Vessel in the water that requires a Vessel Making Way
to alter Course in order to avoid a Collision.
(Also, see HAZARD)
OCCULTING LIGHT
A Navigational light which flashes on and off in a regular pattern,
more on than off.
OCEAN
(Sea)
The vast body of salt water that covers over seventy percent
(70%) of the earth's surface, including the Antarctic, Arctic,
Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.
OCEAN FLOOR
The Sea Bed.
(Also, see BOTTOM and HOLDING GROUND)
OFFSHORE
Navigable waters at Sea lying a distance from Shore,
fifty to seven-hundred Nautical Miles.
OFFSHORE WIND
Wind blowing away from land and out to Sea.
OFF-THE-WIND
Sailing with the wind coming from the Stern or Quarter of the boat.
OLD SALT
(See SALT)
ON-BOARD
(Aboard)
That which is physically on a Vessel whether it is animate or inanimate.
ON-THE-BEAM
(Abeam)
At right angles to the Fore-And-Aft centerline of the Vessel.
ON-THE-BOW
To the Bow of the boat, forward of the Beam.
ON-THE-BOWLINE
(On-The-Wind)
Sailing as close to the Eye-Of-The-Wind as possible without Luffing.
(Also, see CLOSE-HAULED)
ON-THE-QUARTER
To the Stern of the boat, Aft of the Beam.
ON-THE-WIND
(See ON-THE-BOWLINE)
OOCH
A term used by Board Sailors and small Dinghy Sailors to describe using
body english to nudge the Vessel forward over a Wave.
OPEN WATER
A location on the water that is not sheltered from the Wind and Sea.
ORDER
(Directive)
An order, as issued by a Captain or Skipper aboard a Vessel, is a
directive for an action to be carried out by Crew at a specified
future time, an action to be repeated at specified intervals, or
an action to be carried out permanently and at a set period of
time. Orders, are unlike Commands, in that the latter are issued for
the purpose of having action carried out immediately.
OSCILLATION
A single movement in one direction of an oscillating Body-Of-Water.
OUTHAUL
A Line attached to the Clew Cringle of the Mainsail that runs along
the bottom of the Boom, used to tension the Foot of the Sail.
OUT-OF-TRIM
Sails improperly Trimmed for the boat's Point-Of-Sail.
OUTRIGGER
A Beam, Spar, or structure projecting from the side of a Vessel for
the purpose of providing stability.
(Also, see PROA)
OVERALL LENGTH
(See LENGTH-OVER-ALL)
OVERBOARD
Off the boat and into the water.
OVERFALL
Dangerously steep and breaking Seas due to opposing Currents and
Wind in shallow water.
OVERHAND KNOT
A Knot with the end of the Line crossing the Standing Part
and brought up through the Bite.
(Also, see STOPPER KNOT)
OVERHANG
The area of the Bow or Stern that hangs over the water.
OVERRIDE
A Line improperly Wrapped over itself on a Winch Drum.
OVERTAKING SITUATION
When a Vessel approaches the White Sector or Stern area of another
Vessel, the Vessel approached is being overtaken and therefore is
the Stand-on vessel, while the approaching Vessel is Give-way.
(Also, see HEAD-ON SITUATION and CROSSING SITUATION)
OVER-THE-GROUND
(See DISTANCE-MADE-GOOD)
