LYRA Yachting Agency is supporting the international development of specialist sign-language vocabulary for sailing terminology, onboard commands and practical communication.
The project was created by sailor and educator Grigory Shtyler and his team through practical work in sailing education. It gives visual forms to terms sailors use on board, including parts of a yacht, equipment, crew roles, manoeuvres and commands.
The current working vocabulary contains 78 sailing terms.
Practical Vocabulary for Sailing
LYRA has supported the project's adaptation for an international audience and is preparing a free interactive dictionary through its website. The current international version is being developed for use with American Sign Language. Each entry combines a visual reference, an explanation of the sailing concept and a description of how the sign is performed.
The aim is practical. Sailing has a technical language that is used constantly for teaching, coordination and safety. Documenting that vocabulary in an accessible visual form can support deaf and hard of hearing sailors, instructors, students, guests and hearing crew communicating with deaf sailors.
The project does not claim to create a universal sign language, an official international standard or a technical certification. It documents yachting-specific vocabulary that can continue to develop through practical use and informed participation.
“Sailing has its own language, and that language is part of teaching, coordinating a crew and making decisions on the water. I have always tried to make yachting understandable, from a student's first steps in sailing to a client's decision about buying a yacht. Supporting this project follows the same principle: remove an unnecessary communication barrier without speaking for the people who use the language.”
Support Without Replacing Authorship
LYRA provides financial support, has helped develop the project's international visual and digital presentation, and is supporting its promotion and further development. The dictionary is intended to remain free to access.
Authorship of the project remains with Grigory Shtyler. LYRA's role is to support its development, improve its presentation and accessibility, and help the work reach a wider yachting audience.
The company intends to invite yacht clubs, sailing schools, yacht owners, shipyards and other industry participants to support future vocabulary, educational materials and practical sailing applications once the current dictionary release is complete.
About LYRA Yachting Agency
LYRA Yachting Agency is an independent buyer-side yacht advisory founded in Marbella, Spain. It supports clients internationally across yacht selection, purchase, negotiation, new-build projects, delivery, refit and ownership. LYRA combines structured yacht-market data and AI-assisted technology with human advisory and personal representation.
Alongside its core advisory work, LYRA supports projects intended to improve access to and participation in yachting.
About the Sailing Sign-Language Project
The sailing sign-language project was created by sailor and educator Grigory Shtyler and his team to develop practical visual vocabulary for sailing terminology and onboard communication. The working international edition contains 78 terms and is being prepared as a free interactive dictionary with support from LYRA Yachting Agency.
