Katabatic Wind

Cold dense air rushing downhill and out over the water

Occurs on clear nights when air chilled over high ground or an ice cap becomes dense and drains downslope, accelerating through valleys and fjords. Strength depends on the height and steepness of the terrain: in Norwegian, Chilean and Greenland fjords katabatic gusts can exceed gale force with little warning, striking anchorages that appear sheltered on the chart. The weaker daytime upslope counterpart is the anabatic wind.

Kedging

Laying a small anchor out by dinghy to haul the boat off

A kedge is a lighter second anchor, often of high holding power for its weight. It is carried out in a tender, or streamed astern, and its warp hove in to move the vessel or to hold her off a lee shore. The classic use is refloating after grounding: lay the kedge into deep water, then heave as the tide rises, often while heeling the boat to reduce draught.

Knot (kn)