Basic Terminology Flashcards
0
Q
Anemometer
A
An instrument that measures wind speed.
1
Q
Aft
A
Towards, at or near the stern.
2
Q
Anitcyclone
A
Area of relatively heavy, sinking air that results in
high pressure.
3
Q
Apparent wind
A
The combination of true wind (that which we feel when stationary) plus the wind produced by motion.
4
Q
Astern
A
(1) Backward. (2) Outside and behind the stern of the boat.
5
Q
Backing the jib
A
To sheet the jib to windward.
6
Q
Backstay
A
Wire leading from the masthead to the stern.
7
Q
Balanced helm
A
When a boat has a balanced helm, if you let go of the tiller, it will continue on a straight course. See weather helm and lee helm.
8
Q
Batten
A
A light wooden, fiberglass, or plastic strip that slots into a pocket sewn into the aft edge (leech) of a sail.
9
Q
Beam reach
A
Sailing with the wind blowing directly over the side of the boat.
10
Q
Bearing
A
The direction of an object from your boat, or between two objects, measured in degrees relative to north. See heading.
11
Q
Bearing away
A
Turning the boat away from the wind; opposite of luffing (or luffing up).
12
Q
Beating
A
To sail to windward close-hauled, and zigzagging to reach an objective to windward.
13
Q
Beaufort Scale
A
A descriptive scale used for measuring wind strengths.
14
Q
Berth
A
(1) A place to park alongside a quay or pontoon, or in a marina. (2) A bed in the cabin.
15
Q
Bight
A
(1) Bend in the shore making cove, bay, or inlet. (2) Bend in a rope.
16
Q
Bilge
A
(1) The rounded parts of the hull where the sides curve inwards to form the bottom.
(2) The area where water collects inside the boat.
17
Q
Binnacle
A
A pedestal in which a compass is fitted and on which the wheel is usually mounted.
18
Q
Boathook
A
Pole with hook used to pick up mooring buoy or ring when mooring or berthing.
19
Q
Boom
A
A horizontal spar or pole, used to extend the foot of a sail and to help control the sail’s angle
in relation to the wind.
20
Q
Boom vang
A
(or kicking strap) A tackle or strut that prevents the boom from rising under wind pressure in the mainsail.
21
Q
Bow
A
The forward end of a boat; opposite of stern.
22
Q
Bowline
A
(pronounced “bow-lynn”) A knot used to make a loop in the end of a rope or to tie
to a ring or post.
23
Q
Bowsprit
A
A spar projecting from the bow of some boats, allowing sails to be secured further forward.
24
Breast rope
A mooring rope running at right angles to the boat, from bow or stern, sometimes used in addition to the four main warps to hold the boat alongside.
25
Broach
When a boat accidentally turns broadside to the waves.
26
Broad reach
Sailing with the wind coming over the port or starboard quarter of the boat.
27
Bruce
(anchor) Type of burying anchor.
28
Buoyage
A system of navigation marks used to identify hazards and safe channels.
29
Burgee
A small triangular flag flown from the top of a mast, serving to indicate apparent wind.
30
Cardinal marks
Forms of buoyage, used to indicate large or individual hazards in the water.
31
Chart datum
The level from which soundings (depths) and drying heights are measured.
32
Cleat
A wooden or metal fitting that is used to secure ropes.
33
Clew
The lower aft corner of a fore-and-aft sail.
34
Clew outhaul
The rope or wire that adjusts the position of the clew and the tension in the foot of the mainsail.
35
Close-hauled
Sailing as close to the wind as possible, with the sails pulled in tight.
36
Close reach
The point of sailing between close- hauled and a beam reach.
37
Clove hitch
A knot used for short-term mooring to a ring or post, or for hitching fenders to a rail.
38
Coachroof
The raised cabin roof in the middle of the boat.
39
Cockpit
The working area, usually towards the stern of a boat, from which the boat is steered.
40
Companionway
A ladder or steps leading down from the cockpit to
the cabin.
41
Compass north
The direction in which
a compass points.
If there is no local magnetic interference (see deviation), it will point to magnetic north.
42
Control line
A rope or line that adjusts a sail or part of the rig—such as the Cunningham.
43
Convection currents
Air currents formed due to the land heating up and cooling down.
44
Course made good
The course achieved after allowing for leeway and tidal set and drift.
45
Course steered
The course actually steered by the helmsman and read off from the compass.
46
Cringle
A metal or plastic eye sewn into a sail.
47
Crossing turn
The term used when one part of a rope crosses another.
48
Cunningham
A control line for adjusting tension in the luff of a mainsail or jib.
49
Danbuoy
A floating marker pole with flag that is attached to a lifebuoy to improve visibility.
50
Danforth (anchor)
Type of burying anchor.
51
Depression
An area of low pressure.
52
Depth sounder
A device to measure distance from the seabed to the instrument’s transducer.
53
Deviation
The difference between magnetic and compass north as a result of the effect of local magnetic fields on the boat’s compass. Deviation varies with the boat’s course, and is measured in degrees, east or west of magnetic north.
54
Dinghy
A small boat usually designed to be used by one or two people.
55
Dip-pole Jibe
Method of jibing a spinnaker on larger cruisers and cruiser-racers.
56
Direction
Measured clockwise as an angle relative to north. See heading and bearing.
57
Dimasting
When the mast breaks. See jury rig.
58
Displacement
The weight of the water displaced by a floating hull.
59
Downhaul
A rope for hauling down sails or for controlling a spar such as the spinnaker pole; opposite of uphaul.
60
Downwind (or Offwind)
All courses that are further away from the wind than a beam reach are known as downwind, or offwind, courses; opposite of upwind.
61
DR
DR Dead reckoning position. It is plotted on a chart by drawing the course steered from the last known position and measuring off the distance sailed according to the log. See also EP.
62
Drift
The strength of a tidal stream; the distance the stream will move a floating object in an hour.
63
Drogue
An object towed, usually over the stern of a boat as a way of reducing its speed in heavy weather.
64
Ebb Tide
When the tide is going out, between high and low water; opposite of flood tide.
65
Eddies
Circular current, the area of reversed current that forms behind a rock or headland in a current or tidal stream.
66
EP
Estimated position. A DR (dead reckoning) position plus tidal set and drift. EPs are plotted at regular intervals on a chart and compared with a fix to identify any errors in plotting.
67
EPIRB
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon - Transmits distress signals to satellites that are part of the GMDSS.
68
Fairlead
A bolt, ring, or loop that guides a rope.
69
Fathom
An old unit of length for measuring water depth. One fathom is 6ft (1.8m).
70
Fender
A protector hung over the side between the boat and a pontoon or another vessel.
71
Fiddles
The raised lips on worktops in the cabin.
72
Figure Eight
A stopper knot, used to prevent a rope end running out through a block or fairlead.
73
Fin Keel
A single, central, fixed, ballasted keel.
74
Flogging
When a sail flaps noisily it is said to be flogging.
75
Flood Tide
The tide that is coming in; opposite of ebb tide.
76
Fluke
The barb or hook of an anchor.
77
Foot
The bottom edge of a sail.
78
Fore
At, near, or towards the bow.
79
Foredeck
The part of the deck nearest the bow.
80
Forestay
A wire that leads from the mast to the bow fitting. A headsail may
be attached to it.
81
Fortress (anchor)
A type of anchor made from aluminum, with fluke angles that can be adjusted to suit sand or mud bottoms.
82
Galley
A boat's kitchen.
83
Gennaker
A sail that is a cross between a genoa and a spinnaker. Sometimes called a cruising chute.
84
Genoa
A large headsail that overlaps the mast and usually sweeps the deck with its foot. See jib.
85
Gimbals
Fittings that allow an object (such as a galley stove) to swing so as to remain upright when the boat heels.
86
GMDSS
Global Maritime Distress and Safety System - A set of standards to which modern radio sets, satellite communication systems, and
EPIRBs conform.
87
Goosewinging or Wing On Wing
Sailing directly downwind (running) with the mainsail set on one side and the headsail set on the other.
88
GPS
A global positioning system receiver that uses information from a network of satellites to determine and display a boat’s position accurately.
89
GRIB
Gridded binary data files; small files of weather information easily transmitted over the Internet.
90
Ground Track
The course followed, relative to the seabed. See water track.
91
GRP
Glass-reinforced plastic (fiberglass), from which many boat hulls are made.
92
Guardrails
Another term used for lifelines. See lifelines (1).
93
Gunwale
(pronounced “gunnel”) The top edge of the side of the hull.
94
Guy
A rope that controls the spinnaker on the windward side. It runs through the end of the spinnaker pole.
95
Halyard
A rope or wire that is used to hoist a sail, flag, or other signal.
96
Hank
A metal or plastic hook that is used to secure a sail to a stay.
97
Hatch
A cover over an opening on a deck.
98
Head
The top corner of a triangular sail, or the top edge of a four-sided sail.
99
Heading
The direction in which you are steering the boat measured by a compass. See bearing.
100
Heads
Sea toilet or the compartment that contains the toilet and washing facilities.
101
Headsail
A sail set on the forestay; a jib.
102
Head to Wind
The point at which the boat is heading straight into the wind with the
sails luffing.
103
Heaving-to
Bringing a boat to a halt, usually by sheeting the headsail to windward. After the event, a boat is described as “hove-to.”
104
Heel
(1) When a boat tilts over to one side, it heels. (2) The heel of the mast is its bottom end.
105
Helmsman
The person who steers the boat.
106
Hoist
To raise a sail or flag.
107
Horn cleat
A metal, wooden, or plastic cleat with two horns around which the rope is wrapped to create sufficient friction to hold the rope fast.
108
Hull
The main body of the boat.
109
IALA
International Association of Lighthouse Authorities, which organizes buoyage.
110
In-Irons
Stuck head-to- wind with sails flapping and no steerage.
111
Inversion
(1) Weather— when warm air lays on top of cold air. (2) Boat—capsizing so mast points vertically down.
112
ISAF
International Sailing Federation—the international governing body of sailing.
113
Isobars
Lines on weather maps that connect points of equal pressure.
114
Jackstays
Lengths of webbing or wire that run the length of both sidedecks, to which the crew attach their lifelines when working on deck.
115
Jib
A triangular headsail (a sail set in front of the forward mast).
116
Jib Sheets
Ropes used to trim (or “sheet”) the jib.
117
Jibing
Turning the stern of the boat through the wind. See tacking.
118
Jury Rig
A makeshift rig that you construct to get you to safety following
a dismasting.
119
Katabatic Winds
Sinking currents of cold air that run down the slopes of mountains.
120
Kedge Anchor
A lighter anchor than the main (or bower) anchor.
121
Keel
The lowest part of a sailing boat, used to resist sideways drift (leeway).
122
Kicking Strap
See boom vang.
123
Knot
The unit of speed at sea, defined as one nautical mile per hour.
124
Latitude
The angular distance north or south of the equator. The lines
of latitude are the grid lines on a map or chart running east to west, and parallel to the equator. See longitude.
125
Lazy Guy
A leeward guy left slack (not in use) when using a spinnaker.
126
Lazyjacks
Restraining lines rigged from the mast to the boom to retain the mainsail when it is lowered and stowed on the boom.
127
Leeboards
(lee-cloths) Wooden boards (or canvas cloths) fitted along the inboard
edge of a sea berth, to prevent the occupant from being thrown
out of the berth in rough conditions.
128
Leech
The aft edge of a sail.
129
Lee Helm
If a boat turns to leeward when you let go of the tiller or wheel, it has lee helm. See weather helm and balanced helm.
130
Lee Shore
A shore onto which the wind is blowing; opposite of weather shore.
131
Leeward
Away from the wind; opposite of windward.
132
Lifelines
(1) Safety rails or wires fitted around the deck edge, supported by stanchions. (2) The line or strap of a safety harness that is attached to a jackstay, rail, or other strong point on deck.
133
Longitude
The angular distance west or east of the Greenwich meridian. The lines of longitude are the grid lines on a map or chart running north to south. See latitude.
134
Luff
(1) The forward edge of a triangular sail. (2) A sail luffs, or is luffing, when its luff shakes due to the sail not being pulled in sufficiently. (3) To turn towards the wind.
135
Luffing
(1) When a boat is turned towards the wind (also known as luffing up). (2) When the luff of a sail shakes or flaps.
136
Lying A-hull
Drifting with all sail stowed.
137
Magnetic North
The direction to which a magnetic compass points. Magnetic north differs from true north and moves over time.
138
Magnetic Variation
The angular difference between magnetic north and true north, which alters year by year as the magnetic poles move.
139
Mainsail
(pronounced mains’l) The principal fore-and-aft sail.
140
Mainsheet
The rope attached to the boom and used to trim (or adjust) the mainsail.
141
Marlinspike
A pointed tool used to loosen knots and assist in splicing rope.
142
Mast
A vertical pole to which sails are attached.
143
MAYDAY
This is an internationally recognized radio distress signal for use when you are in grave or imminent danger. It takes priority over any other kind of message. See PAN PAN.
144
Mean Direction
The term used to describe the average wind direction.
145
Meridian
A line of longitude that runs from north to south poles.
146
Mooring
A permanent arrangement of anchors and cables, to which a boat can be secured.
147
Multihull
A boat with more than one hull. A catamaran or a trimaran.
148
Nautical Mile
The unit of distance at sea, defined as one minute (1’) of latitude. It is standardized to 6,076ft (1,852m).
149
Navigation Lights
Lights shown by a boat that indicate relative course, position, and status such as sailing, fishing, or towing.
150
Neap Tides
Tides with the smallest range between high and low water; opposite of spring tides.
151
No-sail zone
Since boats cannot sail directly into the wind, there is a no-sail zone on either side of the direction of true wind. The closest that most boats can achieve is an angle of 45° on either side.
152
Occluded
When a cold front overtakes a warm front, the front becomes occluded.
153
Offshore wind
A wind that blows off the land.
154
Offwind
See downwind.
155
Onshore wind
A wind blowing onto the land.
156
Outboard engine
An engine mounted externally on a boat.
157
Outhaul
A rope, such as the mainsail clew outhaul, which adjusts the tension in the foot.
158
Overfalls
Rough water caused by the tide pouring over a rough or precipitous seabed.
159
Painter
A mooring rope attached to the bow of a small boat.
160
PAN PAN
This is an internationally recognized distress signal that takes priority over all except a MAYDAY message.
161
Passage
A journey between two ports.
162
Pile moorings
Wooden or metal stakes (piles) driven into the sea bed, to which mooring warps are tied.
163
Pilotage
Navigation by eye, compass, and chart, when in sight of land.
164
Pinching
Sailing too close to the wind inside the no-sail zone.
165
Plotter
A device for plotting a course on a paper chart.
166
Plow
(anchor) Type of burying anchor.
167
Point of sailing
The direction in which a boat is being sailed, described in relation
to its angle to the wind.
168
Pontoon
A floating platform to which boats can be moored.
169
Port
The left-hand side of a boat, when looking forward.
170
Port tack
A boat is on port tack when the wind is blowing over the port side and the boom is out to starboard. See starboard tack.
171
Prop walk
The effect of a turning propeller, which pushes the stern of the boat sideways in the same direction in which the propeller rotates.
172
Pulpit
An elevated and rigid metal rail around the bow of a boat.
173
Pushpit
An elevated and rigid metal rail around the stern of a boat.
174
Reaching
Sailing with the wind roughly at right angles to the fore and aft line of the boat. See beam reach and broad reach.
175
Reef
To reduce sail area when the wind becomes too strong to sail comfortably under full sail.
176
Reef knot
A knot that is used for tying the ends of rope of equal diameter, as when putting in a reef.
177
Reef points
Lines sewn to the sail to tie up the loose fold in a reefed sail.
178
Rigging
The system of wires and ropes used to keep the mast in place and work the sails.
179
Roller furling
This is a mechanical system to roll up a headsail or mainsail.
180
Roller reefing
This is a mechanical system to reef a headsail or mainsail.
181
Round turn
A complete turn of a rope or line around an object.
182
Rowlocks
(pronounced “rollocks”) U-shaped fittings that support the oars and act as a pivot when rowing.
183
Rudder
A movable underwater blade that is used to steer the boat, controlled by a tiller or wheel.
184
Run/running
Sailing directly downwind (that is, with the wind right behind you, or nearly so) on either a port or starboard tack.
185
Safe track
The course you follow through constricted water.
186
Seacock
A valve that can be shut to close a through-hull fitting.
187
Seizing
Binding two lines together, or a rope to a spar, or a loop in a rope.
188
Sheet
Rope attached to the clew of a sail, or to a boom, used to trim (adjust) the sail.
189
Sheet bend
A knot used to join two ropes.
190
Shrouds
The wire ropes on either side of the mast that support it sideways.
191
Side deck
The deck at the side of the boat.
192
Skeg
A projecting part of the hull that supports the rudder.
193
Slip line
A doubled line with both ends made fast on the boat so that it can be released and pulled from on board.
194
Slot
The gap between the luff of the mainsail and the leech of the headsail.
195
Spade
(anchor) Type of burying anchor.
196
Spinnaker
A large, light, downwind sail set from a spinnaker pole.
197
Spinnaker pole
A pole used to extend the spinnaker tack away from the boat.
198
Splicing
Joining two lines, or creating a loop in one, by interweaving the strands of rope.
199
Spreaders
Small poles extending outwards from one or more places on the mast. Shrouds run through the outer ends.
200
Springs
Mooring warps to help prevent the boat from moving ahead or astern when moored.
201
Spring tides
Tides that have the largest range between high and low tides. See also neap tides.
202
Stanchion
An upright post used to support the guardrails.
203
Standing part
The part of a rope that is not being used to tie a knot.
204
Starboard
The right- hand side of a boat, when looking forward.
205
Starboard tack
The course of a boat when the wind is blowing over a boat’s starboard side and the boom is out to port. See port tack.
206
Steerage way
Having enough speed through the water so that the rudder can be used to steer.
207
Stern
The rear or after part of a vessel; opposite of bow.
208
Storm jib
A small, strong headsail used in very strong winds.
209
Tack
(1) The forward lower corner of a fore-and-aft sail. (2) Under sail, a boat is either on starboard tack or port tack. See tacking.
210
Tacking
Turning the bow of the boat through the wind. See jibing.
211
Tackle
An arrangement of a line led through two or more blocks to move objects or handle heavy loads.
212
Tender
A small boat used to ferry people and provisions to and from a larger boat.
213
Tidal atlas
Small charts showing tidal stream directions and rate of flow.
214
Tidal drift
The strength of a tidal stream.
215
Tidal range
The difference between a tide’s high and low water levels.
216
Tidal set
The strength or speed of a tidal stream.
217
Tidal stream
A flow of water caused by the rise and fall of the tide.
218
Tide
The regular rise and fall of the sea’s surface.
219
Tide tables
A record of the times and heights of high and low water for every day of the year.
220
Tiller
A rod by which the rudder is controlled, for steering.
221
Topping lift
A rope running from the masthead to the boom end used to support the boom when the mainsail is not hoisted.
222
Transit
Two prominent marks that can be aligned to determine that a boat lies on a certain line.
223
Traveler
A slide that travels along a track, used for altering sheet angles.
224
Trim
To let out or pull in a sheet to adjust a sail.
225
True north
The direction of the True North Pole. See also magnetic north and compass north.
226
True wind
The speed and direction of the wind you feel when stationary. See also apparent wind.
227
Trysail
A small, strong replacement for a cruiser’s mainsail that is used in severe weather.
228
Uphaul
A rope for adjusting the height of the spinnaker pole; opposite of downhaul.
229
Upwind
All courses that are closer to the wind (heading more directly into it) than a beam reach are called upwind courses; opposite of offwind or downwind.
230
Vector
A line drawn to indicate both the direction and magnitude of a force, such as a tidal stream.
231
VHF
(very high frequency) A common radio system used on boats.
232
Wake
Waves generated astern by a moving vessel.
233
Warp
Any rope used to secure or move a boat.
234
Watch
(1) A division of crew into shifts. (2) The time each watch has duty.
235
Water track
The course to steer through the water to achieve a ground track after allowing for the effects of any tidal stream.
236
Waypoints
Important points along your route that are often programmed into GPS or chartplotter systems.
237
Weather helm
If the boat, under sail, turns to windward when you let go of the tiller, it has weather helm. See lee helm and balanced helm.
238
Weather shore
When the wind blows off the land, the shore is called a weather shore; opposite of lee shore. See also offshore wind.
239
Whipping
To bind the ends of a rope with thin cord (whipping twine) to prevent it unraveling.
240
Winch
A device to provide mechanical advantage for pulling in sheets and halyards.
241
Windage
The drag caused by the parts of the boat exposed to the wind.
242
Windlass
A mechanical device used to pull in a cable or chain, such as an anchor rode.
243
Windward
Toward the wind; opposite of leeward.
244
Working end
The part of a rope used for tying a knot.
