Knot

Category: maritime

A unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour.

Nautical speed is always measured in knots, not MPH. One nautical mile is slightly longer than a land mile (about 1.15 miles), which is a common point of confusion for new cruisers.

Common Examples

• The Captain announced we were cruising at 20 knots, which meant we would reach the next port of call by sunrise.
• A knot is a measure of speed, so saying "20 knots per hour" is technically incorrect—you are simply traveling at 20 knots.