KEY SAILING TERMS

Here are some terms to help you navigate Squal Girl! These terms will be updated as we continue on our journey.  

• What is a Squall? A sudden, strong wind of brief duration, a local storm on water, or a sudden disturbance or commotion.
• Prepping for the cruise: Early each spring we start dreaming of being on the water and start mapping out some possible destinations and block off some vacation time.
• Provisioning: The art of planning out meals for an extended time on the water. Much planning goes into this and lots of preparation in advance to limit onboard cooking times. The vacuum packer is a big part of our preparation for meals.
• Navigation: So we know where we are going to get there, you have to plot a course and point your boat in the right direction.
• The Galley: The on board kitchen, happy crew happy boat. Sometimes it can be a filet and other times a PBJ. When on the water all tastes great!
• Port of Call: Any place that a cruising boat stops to visit except its home port.
• Home Port: Where the boat lives when not out on a voyage. Some boats are at docks, some are on moorings. Our home port is on the Mystic River in Mystic CT, home to over 2,500 boats.
• Socked in: Can’t see the bow of your boat your socked in? This when the visibility is gone done to thick fog or other weather conditions. We all try to avoid it but sometimes you can’t!
• Sea State: Smooth sailing or choppy seas? Wave height.