Your Guide to Essential Yachting Terminology

Americana Yachts: A Beginner's Guide to Yachting Terminology

Welcome to the world of luxury yachting with Americana Yachts! As you embark on this exciting adventure, you may come across some unfamiliar terms and phrases. To help you feel more comfortable and confident during your time on board, we've put together a simple guide to the most essential yachting terminology.

Getting to Know Your Yacht

Let's start with the basics.
The front of the yacht is called the bow, while the back is known as the stern.
The left side of the yacht, when facing the bow, is called port, and the right side is called starboard.
The widest part of the yacht is referred to as the beam.
The main body of the yacht, or the 'base', is called the hull.
Everything built on top of the hull, such as the upper decks, is called the superstructure.

Important Areas on Your Yacht

The bridge or wheelhouse is where the captain drives the yacht. On some yachts, there's also a flybridge, which is an outdoor steering station on the top deck that offers great views.
The yacht's kitchen is called the galley, and the main living room is known as the main salon. This is usually connected to the formal dining room.
On the upper decks, you might find a sky lounge, which is another comfortable living area, often with a TV, tables for games, and sometimes even a piano.
The top deck of the yacht is called the sundeck, and it's where you'll typically find sunbeds, a BBQ, a bar, a dining table, and maybe even a Jacuzzi.The bedrooms on a yacht are called staterooms or cabins, and the bathrooms are called heads.
You might also hear about day heads, which are small bathrooms located on the main and upper decks for guests to use during the day.

Other Useful Terms

When the yacht is docked, you might see fenders hanging over the sides. These are like big rubber bumpers that protect the yacht's sides from bumping into the dock or other boats.
Smaller boats that are used to take guests to and from shore or to carry supplies are called tenders.

You might also hear about the APA, which stands for Advance Provisioning Allowance. This is an amount of money that you, as the guest, provide upfront to cover things like food, drinks, fuel, and port fees during your trip. Any money not used is returned to you at the end.

At Americana Yachts, we want you to feel at home on our luxurious yachts. Don't worry if you don't remember all these terms right away – our friendly and experienced crew is always happy to help and answer any questions you may have.

Our goal is to ensure that your yachting experience with us is enjoyable, comfortable, and unforgettable.