Glossary of Nautical Terms - U

U

Unassisted sailing

A voyage, usually singlehanded, with no intermediate port stops or physical assistance from external sources.

Under the weather

Serving a watch on the weather side of the ship, exposed to wind and spray.

Under way

A vessel that is moving under control: that is, neither at anchor, made fast to the shore, aground nor adrift.

Underwater hull or underwater ship

The underwater section of a vessel beneath the waterline, normally not visible except when in drydock.

Unship

1. To remove from a vessel.

2. To remove an oar or mast from its normal position

Up-and-down

The relative slackness of an anchor chain where the anchor chain is slack and hangs vertically down from the hawsepipe.

Up-behind

Slack off quickly and run slack to a belaying point. This order is given when a line or wire has been stopped off or falls have been four-in-hand and the hauling part is to be belayed.

Upbound

1. A vessel traveling upstream.

2. Westward-traveling vessels in the Great Lakes region (terminology as used by the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation).

Upper-yardmen

Specially selected personnel destined for high office.