Just landed your first yacht stew gig? Or still on the hunt? Level up your skills by studying our handy list of yachting terms which we’ve curated just for you! Understanding the jargon is one of the first and crucial steps to success in this demanding, yet exciting, industry. So, when you hear ‘set up the beach club‘, you’ll know that it’s not about finding a sandy spot. Plus, you won’t need to ask where the ‘sky bar‘ is when asked to restock it. You’ll be ahead of the game!

We designed our list of yachting terms to make sense of all the lingo you’ll encounter on board. This guide is your go-to resource, shedding light on key terms that are essential to a yacht stew’s day-to-day life. We’re covering everything from the basics of a yacht layout to the guest activities. Every term here is a vital piece of the puzzle in understanding the unique world of yachting.

1. List of Yachting Terms

i. Yacht Sizes

1. Megayacht: Sometimes referred to as gigayachts. They represent the pinnacle of luxury yachting. These vessels exceed 200 feet (about 60 meters) in length and are characterized by their opulence, vast size, and comprehensive amenities, which often include multiple dining areas, gyms, spas, cinemas, and even helipads. Megayachts are designed for extended cruising and are equipped with the latest technology for navigation and guest comfort. Due to their size and complexity, they require a large crew to maintain and operate.
2. Superyacht: Typically range from 80 feet (about 24 meters) to approximately 200 feet (around 60 meters) in length. These vessels are known for their high level of luxury and are often custom-built to include high-end amenities on multiple decks with professionally designed interiors, advanced navigation equipment, and crew quarters. Superyachts are generally fully crewed.
3. Yacht: A medium to large-sized vessel mainly used for pleasure or sports. While there’s no strict size definition, yachts typically range from about 35 feet (about 10 meters) to around 80 feet (approximately 24 meters) in length. They can be either sailing or motor-powered. Yachts are often equipped with cabins, a galley, and deck space for relaxation and entertainment.

ii. The Yacht

4. Aft: The rear section of the yacht.
5. Bow: The front section of the yacht.
6. Stern: The back end of the yacht (not to be confused with Aft)
7. Port: The left side of the yacht when facing forward.
8. Starboard: The right side of the yacht when facing forward.
9. Main Deck: This is typically the primary level where the main saloon, dining area, and sometimes the main galley are located. The owner’s suite or primary guest accommodations might also be on this deck.
10. Lower Deck: Houses additional guest cabins, crew quarters, the engine room, and service areas. In some yachts, the lower deck might also include amenities like a beach club or a garage for tenders and water toys.
11. Upper Deck (or Bridge Deck): Often includes the yacht’s bridge (the navigational control center) and additional living or dining areas. It might also have the captain’s quarters and some VIP guest suites.
12. Sun Deck (or Sky Deck): Usually the highest deck on a yacht, often open-air, and equipped with leisure amenities such as sun loungers, a bar (Sky Bar), a jacuzzi, and sometimes an outdoor dining area.

13. Foredeck: The deck at the front of the yacht, which can include additional seating, sunbathing areas, or sometimes storage for tenders and jet skis.
14. Aft Deck: The aft deck is the outdoor area located at the rear or stern of the yacht. It is a versatile space used for various purposes such as al fresco dining, guest seating areas, access to water and the swim platform, as well as crew access to the engine room, laundry, and/or tender and toys garage.
15. Helideck: A dedicated deck or area for helicopter landing and storage. This feature is typically found on larger superyachts, megayachts and expedition yachts.
16. Galley: The onboard kitchen where meals are prepared.
17. Hull: The main body of the yacht, usually below the waterline.
18. Bulwark: a high, solid wall or railing along the side of a yacht, extending above the deck level. 
19. Mast: A vertical pole or spar that supports sails or antennas.
20. Bilge: The lowest section of the yacht’s interior where water collects and is pumped out.

21. Beam: The width of the yacht at its widest point.
22. Bulkhead: A vertical wall or partition within the yacht’s interior.
23. Porthole: A small, round window on the side of the yacht, often found in cabins.
24. Swim Platform: A platform at the stern of the yacht for swimming and water activities.
25. Garage: A storage area on the yacht for tenders and yacht toys, can be located in the stern, and/or under the helideck depending on the style and size of yacht.
26. Crew Entrance: A designated boarding area on a yacht, typically located forward, that is reserved exclusively for the use of the crew and for receiving deliveries when the yacht is moored alongside in a marina or port.
27. Passarelle: It usually refers to a retractable and sometimes automated walkway for the purpose of boarding and disembarking, when the vessel is moored, especially in marinas or docks.
28. Lifelines: Found on sailing yachts and are the safety lines permanently rigged fore and aft on either side of the deck. Designed to prevent crew and guests from falling overboard by providing a physical barrier along the yacht’s perimeter.

iii. Navigation and Safety

29. Chart: A nautical map used for navigation.
30. Knot: A unit of speed, equal to one nautical mile per hour. 1 knot = 1.852 km/h or 1.15078 mph.
31. Safety Briefing: An orientation for guests and crew on safety procedures and emergency protocols.
32. Muster Station: A designated location where passengers and crew gather in case of an emergency.
33. EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon): A distress beacon used to alert search and rescue teams in case of emergencies at sea.
34. Navigation Lights: Lights on the yacht used to indicate its position, status, and direction to other vessels.

35. Nautical Mile: A unit of measurement used in maritime and aviation navigation. It is equivalent to precisely 1,852 meters or about 6,076.1 feet and is based on the Earth’s circumference. One nautical mile corresponds to one minute of latitude.
36. Latitude & Longitude: Geographical coordinates used to determine the precise location of any point on the Earth’s surface.
    Latitude measures the north-south position relative to the equator, which is 0° latitude, with the range extending to 90° North and 90° South at the poles. It’s expressed in degrees (°), minutes (‘), and seconds (“).
    Longitude, on the other hand, measures the east-west position relative to the Prime Meridian, which is 0° longitude, extending to 180° East and 180° West. Like latitude, it is also expressed in degrees, minutes, and seconds.
37. Anchor: A heavy object or device used to secure the yacht in place by holding it to the seabed.
38. PFD (Personal Flotation Device): commonly known as a life jacket, is a wearable safety equipment designed to keep an individual afloat in water.
39. Bowline knot: a secure, non-slip loop widely used for its ease of tying and untying, essential for creating fixed loops in lines for various tasks.
40. Clove hitch knot: a simple, adjustable knot to securely tie fenders to the handrails or lifelines.

iv. Crew Life

41. Captain: The person responsible for the overall operation and navigation of the yacht.
42. Crew Hierarchy: The crew hierarchy on a yacht defines the roles, ranks, and responsibilities of crew members. It helps maintain order, efficiency, and safety onboard. 
43. HOD (Head of Department): refers to the leading crew members in charge of specific departments onboard, such as the Chief Steward/ess (Chief Stew), Executive Chef, First Officer, and Chief Engineer, among others. These individuals are responsible for overseeing their department’s operations, managing crew members within their domain, ensuring high standards of service and efficiency, and contributing to the overall safety and smooth functioning of the yacht.
44. Duty Roster/Shift Rota: A schedule that determines when crew members are on duty and when they have time off.
45. Crew Rotation: A scheduling system which traditionally involves alternating crew members in the same role onboard, where each works for an equal period before taking an equivalent time off.
46. Crew Mess: A common area where crew members eat and relax.
47. Captain’s Quarters: The cabin or area reserved for the yacht’s captain.
48. Crew Quarters: Sleeping and living spaces for the yacht’s crew members.

v. Onboard Facilities and Guest Areas

49. Stateroom: A luxurious, larger cabin often reserved for VIP guests.
50. Cabin: A private sleeping quarters for guests or crew.
51. Head: A nautical term for a bathroom or toilet.
52. Salon/Saloon: The salon, often referred to as the “main salon,” is an essential and versatile living space on a yacht. It is typically located on the main deck, and its design and layout can vary significantly depending on the yacht’s size and style. FYI “Salon” is American and “Saloon” is British.
53. Upper Salon: The upper salon, also known as the “skylounge” or “bridge deck lounge,” is a secondary living and entertainment area on many larger yachts, typically situated on the upper deck. It often offers a more private and intimate atmosphere compared to the main salon.
54. Jacuzzi: A hot tub or whirlpool on the yacht.

55. Spa: A dedicated area designed for relaxation, rejuvenation, and wellness activities. On larger yachts, you’ll often find a spa equipped with a jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room, offering beauty and wellness treatments by a dedicated Spa Manager/Stew. You might also come across exercise machines and fitness equipment in these spas, and there may even be a fitness instructor among the crew.
56. Beach Club: Usually located in the tender garage. It usually includes the swim platform and inflatable platforms surrounding a safe swimming area. This multi-purpose space is dedicated to relaxation and water-based activities, and often includes a bar and entertainment system. Various water toys like jet skis, sea-bobs, SUP’s, and foil-boards are all launched from this area. The Beach Club setup can also include setting up the water slide which extends from the yacht’s upper deck. The whole Beach Club setup is always stowed when the guests are finished using it or if the weather changes.

vi. Service and Guest Experience

57. Silver Service: A formal dining style where food is served using utensils, often with white gloves. Varies in style and custom.
58. Guest Preference Sheet: A document that outlines the specific preferences and requirements of each guest, including dietary restrictions, allergies, and activity preferences.
59. Turndown Service: Preparing guest cabins for sleep, including tidying up and adjusting the bed.
60. Turn-up Service: Refers to the daily morning routine of preparing and tidying up guest cabins. It is a fundamental part of a yacht stewardess’s duties and involves making beds, cleaning bathrooms (heads), and tidying the cabin space. 

vii. Yacht Operations & Onboard Equipment

61. Charter: The rental of a yacht for a specified period.
62. APA (Advanced Provisioning Allowance): is a pre-paid budget, typically 25% to 30% of the charter fee, used to cover operational expenses like fuel, food, port fees, and incidentals during a yacht charter, with adjustments made for any unused or additional funds at the end.
63. Yacht Charter Agreement: A legal contract specifying the terms and conditions of a charter, including payment and itinerary.
64. Centtrip: a financial service for yachting, where HOD’s (heads of department) have their own cards to handle provisioning and easily deal with money in different currencies.
65. Turnaround: The process of preparing the yacht for a new charter after the previous guests depart.
66. Tender: A small boat used for transporting passengers or supplies to and from the yacht.
67. Tender/Jetski Launch and Retrieval: The process of lowering the yacht’s tenders and/or jetskis into the water for use and then hoisting it back on board when finished. Usually out of and in to the tender Garage.
68. Dock: A structure for mooring or berthing the yacht, usually in a marina.
69. Mooring: The process of securing the yacht to a fixed point, such as a dock or anchor.
70. Yacht Onboard Culture: The unique traditions, standards, and behaviors that define the living and working environment on a yacht.
71. Fender: A cushioning device hung over the side of the yacht to prevent damage to the vessel’s sides and hull when docking or mooring alongside piers, other boats, or any hard surface in the marine environment.

2. Last thing…

And that’s a wrap on our list of most used terms in yachting! Having this knowledge up your sleeve, you’re all set to jump into the yachting world. Each word you’ve picked up here is like a key – it’ll help you fit right in and do your job like a pro.

If you’re stepping on a yacht for the first time, knowing this stuff can really make a difference. It’s all about getting those details right and showing that you have what it takes.

Keep this list close, stay open to learning new things, and step on board with confidence. You’ve got this – here’s to great experiences and smooth sailing!

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3. Further Reading

Yachting – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yachting

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