Six motions on a yacht
Here are some common boat movements, including yaw, pitch, and roll, which describe how yachts move in the water:
Yaw refers to the side-to-side motion of a yacht’s nose (bow). This is yaw if you imagine the yacht turning left or right without tilting. It’s a horizontal rotation around a vertical axis, often caused by steering or water currents.
Pitch: is the up-and-down motion of the yacht’s nose (bow) and stern (rear) when it encounters waves from the front or rear. It feels like the yacht is see-sawing forward and backwards.
Roll: describes the tilting or rocking motion of the boat from side to side. This is a rotation around the boat’s longitudinal axis. When a boat rolls, one side lifts while the other dips. It’s often experienced when the yacht encounters waves from the side.
Heave: is the vertical up-and-down motion of the entire yacht caused by waves or swell, without tilting or rotating. (see heaving to)
Sway: is the yacht’s side-to-side (lateral) movement without changing its orientation, similar to sliding left or right.
Surge: is the forward or backward movement of the yacht, often driven by changes in speed or acceleration from waves or currents.
Each movement is part of how boats respond to the wind, waves, and their own steering inputs.
FUN FACT
People prone to seasickness are more sensitive to these repetitive, irregular motions, especially when they can’t see a stable horizon or when their inner ear’s balance system becomes confused.
The motion that most often causes seasickness combines pitch (up-and-down movement of the bow and stern) and roll (side-to-side rocking).
A combination of pitch and roll is generally the most nauseating because it involves both vertical and lateral movement, overwhelming the senses.
