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sacred (adj) – Holy, connected with religion or religious rights; regarded with the respect reserved for holy things

saguaro cactus (n) – A giant cactus with a thick, spiny stem and white flowers, native to northern Mexico and southwestern United States

sail maneuvers (n) – The task of changing the angles of sails or the raising or lowering of sails in response to changing conditions

sail plan (n) – The configuration of sails used in a particular weather condition

sail training (n) – The act of learning how to use the lines, sails, rigging, etc. on a ship for the purpose of sailing the ship

salinas (n) – The Spanish word for sea water evaporation ponds

salinity (n) – The concentration of salt in a solution

salinization (n) – To be treated or impregnated with salt

salon (n) – See definition of saloon

saloon (n) – 1 : The main social cabin of a passenger ship  2 : The sitting or dining area on a boat or ship

salopettes (n) – A middle to outer layer of clothing to keep the wearer warm

salt marsh (n) – A grassland over which salt water flows at intervals

salve (n) – A medicinal ointment, a balm; anything that soothes or heals

SAM splint (n) – A brand of lightweight, flexible, and versatile splint that can be used in many different ways on broken or fractured bones

sampan (n) – A type of small boat used in China and Japan, usually rowed, or “sculled” with a long oar from the back of the boat

sanctuary (n) – 1 : A reservation or area set aside to shelter animals and birds, preventing them from being hunted or trapped as they breed  2 : Any place of refuge or protection

sand dollar (n) – A marine animal with a flat, hard, disk-like spiny skeleton and radial body; found on sandy ocean beds

sarong (n) – A loose garment made of a long strip of cloth wrapped around the body that is worn as a skirt or dress

Sargasso Sea (n) – An oval-shaped area in the North Atlantic Ocean between the 20th and 40th parallels of north latitude, and between the 35th and 75th meridians (lines of longitude) west of Greenwich

SARS (n) – Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome; a respiratory illness reported in Asia, North America, and Europe in March 2003; symptoms may include a low-grade fever, body aches, and a dry cough; can progress to the point where the blood does not get enough oxygen

savannah (n) – Flat grassland of tropical or subtropical regions

scale (n) – The proportion or ratio that a map bears to the thing that it represents (e.g., one inch equals one mile); a line marked off on a map to indicate this proportion or ratio

scalloper (n) – A fishing vessel that primarily harvests scallops

scavenge (v) – To feed on dead or decaying matter

scavenger (n) – Any animal that eats refuse and decaying organic matter

scavenger hunt (n) – A game in which persons are sent out to bring back a number of prescribed, miscellaneous items without buying them

scepter (n) – An ornamented staff held by rulers on ceremonial occasions

"sched" (n) – Slang term for schedule, an update on a boats position in a race

schlerophyll (n) – Alternate spelling of sclerophyll

schooner (n) – A typically two-masted fore-and-aft rigged vessel with a foremast and a mainmast located nearly amidships

scleractinian coral (n) – A type of coral that secretes a hard skeleton; reef-building coral

sclerophyll (n) – "The bush"; an area characterized by woody plants with small, leathery, evergreen leaves (i.e. the eucalypt or gum tree). The climate in the sclerophyll is hot and dry.

sclerophyll forest (n) – A type of forest more sparse than the rainforest and filled mostly with Eucalyptus trees

scrimshaw (n) – Intricate, decorative carvings made of whalebone or ivory; often made by sailors on long voyages

scrub (n) – The Australian term for rainforest

scrutinize (v) – To look at very carefully

SCUBA (n) – SCUBA stands for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. It's the tanks, tubes and mouthpieces that you've seen on Jacques Cousteau television programs. In fact, Cousteau invented SCUBA!

scupper (n) – An opening in the side of a ship at deck level to allow the water to run off

scurvy (n) – A disease caused by not eating enough vitamin C; characterized by bleeding gums and extreme weakness

scythe (n) – An implement consisting of a long, curved single-edged bade with a long, bent handle, used for mowing or reaping

sea anemone (n) – A type of brightly-colored sea polyp consisting of a large, firm, gelatinous body without a skeleton and petal-like tentacles; found attached to rocks and pilings

sea change (n) – A major transformation; a change in sea conditions

sea fan (n) – A horny coral with a fan-like structure, found in the West Indies and Florida Keys

"sea legs" (n) – The ability to walk without losing one’s balance aboard a ship, especially in rough seas; the successful adjustment to life aboard a sailing vessel

sea lice (n) – Cymothymoidism is "sea lice," a skin eruption associated with the bites of crustaceans which are true parasites of fish

sea rod (n) – A type of coral which resembles a rod or stick

sea stow (n) – The process of stowing a sail at sea

sea urchin (n) – One of a family of round-bodied marine mammals having a hard outer skeleton studded with long movable spines

seafarer (n) – A traveler on the sea, especially a sailor

seagrass (n) – A flowering plant that lives beneath the water's surface. Because they require light, the depth at which seagrasses are found is limited by water clarity.

seal (n) – A piece of metal, paper, rubber, etc. that is fixed around an opening to prevent liquid or gas flowing through it

secession (n) – An act of withdrawal or separation, particularly the withdrawal of the Southern States from the Federal Union at the start of the American Civil War

Secchi depth (n) – The determination of water clarity by means of a Secchi disc; this circular colored disk is lowered into water to estimate the water clarity by measuring the depth at which it disappears from view

secondary regrowth forest (n) – The forest type that grows in after a mature forest is cut down or dies out

secrete (v) – 1 : To hide; to conceal  2 : To emit, discharge or release

Security Council (n) – The United Nations council responsible for maintaining international peace and security

sediment (n) – Matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid

sedimentary (adj) – Formed by the deposit of sediment

sedimentary rock (n) – Rock consisting of highly compressed layers of sedimentary deposits

sedimentation (n) – The process by which matter settles or is deposited in a certain location

seed bank – Seeds found in or on the soil

seedling (n) – Any young plant, especially a small, young tree

segregate (v) – To separate

seine (n) – A large fishing net with floats along the top edge and weights along the bottom

seine (v) – To fish with a seine net

self-contained resort (n) – A resort characterized by the fact that everything a visitor needs or wants can be found on the resort premises (food, games, activities, etc.)

semi-diurnal (adj) – Occurring twice a day (e.g., tides)

septic tank (n) – An underground tank in which sewage is disposed in order to decompose through bacterial action

sequential (adj) – Forming or characterized by a sequence, a succession: one thing after another

sequester (v) – To remove or set apart; to segregate

serenity (n) – Peacefullness

serpentarium (n) – A museum/zoo dedicated to displaying and teaching about snakes

serrated (adj) – Having saw-like notches along the edge

sessile (adj) – Not moving; immobile

set (n) – The direction of a water current

set (v) – In nautical terms, to raise (e.g., a sail) into position

settee (n) – A seat or bench with a back, usually for up to 2–3 people

sextant (n) – An instrument used to measure the angular distance of the sun, a star, etc., from the horizon so as to determine the position of a ship

Seychelles (n) – A group of islands in the Indian Ocean, located north of Madagascar

shackle (n) – In nautical terms, U-shaped fitting closed with a pin across the open ends and used to secure sails to lines or fittings, lines to fittings, fittings to fittings, anchors to chain, etc.

shadehouse (n) – A greenhouse-like structure that is used to grow, nurture, and protect trees seedlings prior to being planted in the wild

"shake a reef" (v) – To untie the lines that are used to reef a sail

shantytown (n) – A usually poor section of town consisting mostly of small, crudely-built dwellings

shard (n) – A fragment or broken piece, especially of pottery

sheer-pole (n) – A metal rod lashed to the shrouds just above the dead-eyes and parallel to the ratlines

sheet (n) – A rope used to control a sail’s angle to the wind

sheet in (v) – To pull a sail in by pulling on the sheet

shellback (n) – In Class Afloat Live!, a crew member who has crossed the equator and who has been through the equator-crossing ceremony

shellfish (n) – Any aquatic animal with a shell, including many mollusks and crustaceans (e.g., clam, crab, lobster)

shield volcano (n) – A volcano with broad, gentle slopes that is built by the eruption of fluid basalt lava

shipping lane (n) – A predetermined, mapped route on the ocean that commercial vessels tend to follow between ports; this helps ships to avoid hazardous areas

shipshape (adj) – A nautical term that refers to a neat and well-organized ship

shipwright (n) – One who builds or repairs ships

shipyard (n) – A place where ships are built and/or repaired

shire (n) – A county, district, or region

shoal (n) – A place in the sea where the water is shallow and difficult to navigate

shroud (n) – Part of the standing rigging that helps to support the mast by running from the top of the mast to the side of the boat. Sailboats usually have one or more shrouds on each side of the mast.

siege (n) – The surrounding of a fortified place with the intent to take it, usually by blockade or bombardment

siesta (n) – Spanish term for a time during the afternoon when businesses close and people go home to rest or sleep

sight (n) – 1 : In nautical terms, a visible landmark or heavenly body used to determine one’s relative position at sea   2 : An observation taken with mechanical aid, as on a sextant

siltation (n) – The increase of sediment in bodies of water

simulate (v) – To take on the appearance or form of; imitate

simultaneous (adj) – Happening, existing, or done at the same time

Single Sideband (SSB) radio (n) – A type of communications radio carried on a boat which enables crew to transmit messages over long distances

sinkhole (n) – A saucer-shaped surface depression produced when underlying caves collapse or underlying material, such as limestone or salt, dissolves

siphon (v) – To draw in or eject a liquid; many shellfish have tube-like organs for this purpose

siren (n) – According to Greek and Roman mythology, any of several sea nymphs, represented as part bird and part woman, who lure sailors to their deaths on rocky coasts by seductive singing

Sirius (n) – The brightest star of the night sky, otherwise known as the Dog Star

skeptical (adj) – Doubtful; questioning

skiff (n) – 1. A small, light, open boat; 2. one of a class of fast 18-foot open sailboats sailed in competition

skink (n) – Any of a family (Scincidae) of typically small insectivorous lizards with long, tapering bodies that eats insects

skipjack (n) – A flat-bottomed, single-masted, centerboarded, working sailboat, used to navigate Chesapeake Bay’s shallow waters for oystering; any of various fishes that leap out or play at the surface of the water (e.g., bluefish)

skipper (n) – The captain of a ship

slate (n) – A sheet of plastic used as a pad for underwater writing with a #2 pencil

sleep deprivation (n) – A state in which a person does not have enough sleep to function properly

slide (n) – see car

sloop (n) – A fore-and-aft rigged sailboat with one mast and one jib

slope (n) – The degree angle (or "pitch") at which a piece of land sits

slush (v) – To cover with grease or other lubricant; ship masts are slushed to ease the raising of sails

s’more (n) – Traditional campfire dessert consisting of a toasted marshmallow and chocolate sandwiched between two graham crackers

snake pit (n) – In sailing, the part of the boat into which many or all of the lines that control the sails are led

snorkel (n) – A tube projecting above the water used by swimmers for breathing with the head under water

snorkel (v) – To swim with one’s head under water, using a snorkel to breathe

snow day (n) – A Class Afloat term describing a day in which all classes are canceled aboard Concordia, and the students get to relax or catch up on homework; it does not have to be snowing to have a snow day

socialism (n) – A form of government in which the major means of production and distribution are owned, managed, or controlled by the government (state socialism), by the workers (guild socialism), or by the community as a whole

socialist (adj) – A person who believes in socialism

socioeconomic (adj) – Involving both social and economic factors

socioeconomics (n) – The study of social and economic factors

SOHCAHTOA (n) – An abbreviation for the main rules of trigonometry, in regards to the hypotenuse, adjacent and opposite sides of a right triangle: (SOH) sine = opposite/hypotenuse; (CAH) cosine = adjacent/hypotenuse; and (TOA) tangent = opposite/adjacent

soil compaction (n) – When the soil becomes so tightly packed that air, water, and nutrients cannot pass through it

solar (adj) – Produced by, coming from or having to do with the sun

solar panel – A group of devices (solar cells) that convert sunlight into electric energy.

solar-powered (adj) – Powered by the light energy of the sun

solder (v) – To join together two metal surfaces, or patch one metal surface, by adding melted solder, a metal alloy, to the joint or patch

soldier fish (n) – This fish may have got its name from its scales, which form an armor-like covering over its body. It lives on coral reefs and eats tiny bits of plants.

sole (n) – The deck of a boat’s cockpit or interior cabin

"soles and bowls" (n) – The area of a ship including the deck of a ship’s cockpit and interior and the head (bathroom); often refers to the task of cleaning the aforementioned areas of a ship

solidarity (n) – Unity, as of opinion, purpose, interest, feeling, etc.

soprano (adj) – Having to do with the highest singing voice of a woman or young boy

sound (n) – A wide channel or strait linking two large bodies of water or separating an island from the mainland; a long inlet or arm of the sea

sound (v) – To measure the depth of a body of water or other liquid, especially with the use of a marked and weighted line

sound (adj) – Healthy, safe, sensible, free from damage or decay

sounding (n) – The process of measuring the depth of a body of water or other liquid, especially with the use of a marked and weighted line

"sound-off" (n) – The process by which a ship’s crew ensures that everyone is aboard and accounted for; in a "sound-off", everyone calls off their assigned numbers in order, making for a speedy roll call

sour (adj) – Acidic (when referring to water or soil)

Southern Ocean (n) – The ocean surrounding Antartica and connecting the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans

sow (v) – To plant seeds

spar (n) – A stout rounded wood or metal piece (mast, boom, gaff, or yard) used to support rigging

spawning (n) – The act of reproducing

spearfish (v) – To catch fish underwater with the help of a spear gun

spearfishing (n) – A fishing method in which the fisher person is under water and uses a spear gun to catch individual fish

speciation (n) – The evolutionary formation of new biological species, usually by the division of a single species into two or more genetically distinct ones

species (n) – 1 : A group of organisms designated by a common name and having common attributes and the ability to interbreed  2 : The smallest of seven categorical levels of biological taxonomy, ranking below kingdom, phylum, class, order, family and genus

spectrum (n) – A continuous range, or a range in its entirety

spelunker (n) – One who explores caves as a hobby

spelunking (n) – The practice of exploring caves

spermaceti (n) – A white, wax-like substance taken from the oil in the head of a sperm whale or dolphin, used in making cosmetics, ointments, candles, etc.

sperm whale (n) – The largest of the toothed whales, found in temperate and tropical waters and highly prized for its oil

spindrift (n) – Spray blown from a rough sea or surf

spine (n) – Any stiff, sharply-pointed projection from a plant’s surface

spinnaker (n) – A large, triangular head sail (used at the front of a boat) that is used when reaching or running

spinnaker pole (n) – A pole that attaches the clew of a spinnaker to the mainmast

spiny echidna (n) – This animal is a monotreme, like the platypus. A monotreme is a mammal that lays eggs, like birds. There are only two monotreme species in the world: the spiny echidna and the platypus.

spit (n) – A narrow reef, shoal or point of land, extending into a body of water

SPLAT! line (n) – A line that hangs from the ship’s course yard with which to swing out over/into the water

sponge (n) – Any of a phylum (Porifera) of simple, aquatic, sessile animals having a porous structure and a tough, often calcareous skeleton

sporangia (n) – An organ that produces spores

sportfisher (n) – One who fishes for recreation

sportfishing (n) – Fishing for recreation

spotlighting (v) – A method of finding and seeing an animal at night by shining a spotlight and seeing the "eye shine" of the animal

spp. (n) – Species (plural)

spray skirt (n) – A skirt of material worn by a kayaker that fits snugly around the outside of a kayak cockpit, thus preventing water from entering the kayak

spreader (n) – One of the struts leading off a sailboat's mast which hold the rigging wires out and keep the mast straight

spreadsheet (n) – A computer program that organizes numerical data into rows and columns, making it easy to compute desired calculations and make overall adjustments based on new data

spring tide (n) – Especially high high tides and low low tides that occur during full and new moons, when the sun and the moon are lined up with the Earth

spur-and-groove topography (n) – Term referring to underwater landscapes in which bands of large coral heads rise from the sea floor with sandy grooves winding between them

spyhopping (n) – A whale behavior in which the whale jumps vertically out of the water, head first

squall (n) – A brief, violent storm

square sail (n) – A four-sided sail extended by a yard and hung horizontally

stalactite (n) – A formation in a cave that comes out of the ceiling

stalagmite (n) – A formation in a cave that comes out of the floor, often with a big base

stanchion (n) – An upright bar, beam or post used as support; in nautical terms, a post along the rail of the boat used to hold a lifeline

stand watch (v) – To steer, navigate, tend the sails, and perform other boat-related duties while one is on watch

staple (n) – An item regularly produced, stocked or consumed

staple (adj) – Regularly produced, stocked or consumed

starboard (n) – The right side of a ship when facing forward

starboard tack (n) – Sailing with the wind coming over the starboard (right) side of the boat

starfruit (n) – This is a small tree, 5 to 12 meters tall, with clusters of small lilac-colored flowers borne on leafy twigs. The fleshy five-angled fruits have a sweet to sour taste.

stash (n) – A secret hiding place

statistical (adj) – Having to do with, consisting of, or based on statistics

statistics (n) – The mathematics of the collection, organization, and interpretation of numerical data, especially the analysis of population characteristics by inference from sampling

statute mile (n) – A unit of linear measure; (land) mile

stay (n) – A heavy rope or cable, usually made of wire, which is used as a brace or support for a ship’s mast

staysail (n) – 1 : A triangular fore-and-aft rigged sail fastened on a stay  2 : A small sail used on BT Global Challenge yachts which is flown between the mast and the inner forestay

steam (v) – To move a ship by means of an engine

steerage (n) – The ability to steer a boat or ship

stern (n) – The rear of a boat

stevedore (n) – Originally, a longshoreman; in modern terms, one who provides the machinery and longshoremen necessary to load and unload ships’ cargo

stewardship (n) – The role of being responsible for, or taking care of, something, e.g., land, the environment, etc.

stilt roots (n) – Specialized supportive roots that look like pitchfork extensions at the base of a tree trunk

stinger net (n) – A safety net installed in the water at a beach that prevents stinging jellyfish from getting through and stinging swimmers

stingray (n) – A marine fish with a flattened body and a tail with venomous spines

stock (n) – Supply (e.g., fish stock = supply of fish)

stoic (n) – One who seems indifferent to or unaffected by joy, grief, pleasure, or pain

stoically (adv) – Not affected by passion

storm (n) – A weather event featuring wind speeds of between 48 and 55 knots

storm staysail (n) – A sail used on BT Global Challenge yachts that is attached to the inner forestay; used only in extreme wind conditions

storm surge (n) – An increase in tidal height due to high winds and stormy weather

stow (v) – To place or arrange, especially in a neat, compact way; especially on a boat when an item is not being used

stow away (v) – To conceal or hide oneself on a ship as a means of getting transportation

strata (n) – A layer

strenuous (adj) – Requiring great effort, vigor, energy, or exertion

strife (n) – Bitter conflict; a struggle, fight, or quarrel

strike (v) – To lower or take down (e.g., a sail)

strip-cropping (n) – The growing of a cultivated crop, such as cotton, and a sod-forming crop, such as alfalfa, in alternating strips following the contour of the land in order to minimize erosion

Strombus gigas (n) – The Latin name for the queen conch

stylus (n) – A pointed tool used for writing

subducting (adj) – Sinking via the process of subduction

subduction (n) – The sinking of one crustal plate under another as they collide

subduction zone (n) – A zone of the Earth’s crust in which subduction occurs

submersible (n) – A vessel designed to operate under water; a submarine

subsidy (n) – A grant of money, especially from the government

subsist (v) – To remain or continue in existence

subsistence (n) – The means of basic livelihood and sustenance; sometimes used to refer to an economically low level of living

subsistence farming (n) – Farming for personal food only

subsistence fishing (n) – Fishing for personal food only

substrate (n) – The ground or other solid material on which an animal moves or is fastened

subterranean (adj) – Lying beneath the earth’s surface

subtidal zone (n) – The zone of land which extends to the edge of the continental shelf and is below the low tide mark and is always submerged in the water; an ocean habitat which exists at greater water depths, where tides do not affect the movement of the water

subtropical (adj) – Relating to the regions that border the tropical zone

succession (n) – In ecological terms, the slow, regular series of changes or developments in a region’s community of plants and animals, moving from simple to complex and often following a regional disturbance (e.g., hurricane, fire, flood, clearcutting, etc.)

succulent (adj) – Having thick, fleshy, water-storing leaves or stems

sugar cane (n) – A very tall, perennial, tropical grass, cultivated as the main source of sugar

sulfur (n) – A pale yellow chemical element found in crystalline or amorphous form, similar in smell to that of rotten eggs

summit (n) – A meeting of the highest level of officials

superimpose (v) – To lay above or on top of

superstition (n) – An irrational belief or practice, often based on fear or ignorance

superstructure (n) – The structural part of a ship above the main deck

supplicant (n) – One who is submissive

surface tension (n) – With respect to water, the attraction of the molecules of water at the surface (air-water interface) so that the surface resists penetration by small objects

surreal (adj) – Having an oddly dreamlike quality

surrogate (adj) – A substitute

survey (n) – A detailed study in which information is gathered by means of questionnaires, interviews, observations, etc.

sustainability (n) – The ability to exist and/or be maintained over time

sustainable (adj) – Maintainable

sustainable agriculture (n) – Agricultural practices that take into consideration conservation and efficiency by using renewable and alternative energy sources, minimizing waste, and reusing and recycling resources back into the system for use on crops and the land

sustainable development (n) – A concept by which people can use a resource to their benefit without overusing or overexploiting the resource

sustainable fishery (n) – A fishery in which the population of the target species remains relatively stable

sustenance (n) – Food, nourishment, provisions

suture kit (n) – A medical kit that contains the materials for sewing a wound together

sweat (v) – To haul on a rope, hauling up tightly to hoist the last possible inch or so

sweet sop (n) – A tropical American tree widely cultivated for its yellowish-green fruit with sweet, edible pulp; the fruit of this tree

swell (n) – A long, crestless wave or succession of waves

swim call (n) – A time when a ship’s crew is allowed to go swimming directly off the ship

swing bridge (n) – A bridge that can be swung horizontally to allow for the passage of tall vessels

symbiosis (n) – In biology, the intimate living together of two kinds of organisms, especially for mutual advantage

symbiotic (adj) – In a state of mutual interdependence

synagogue (n) – The house of worship and communal center of a Jewish congregation

synchronized (adj) – Moving or occurring at the same time or rate

syntax (n) – The relationship between words; sentence structure

synthetic (adj) – Prepared or made artificially

systemic (adj) – Affecting the entire organism or bodily system

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