Sailing

Question 1

Port

Answer 1

Facing forward, this is anything to the left of the boat. When you’re onboard, you can use this term pretty much any time you would normally say “left.”

Question 2

Starboard

Answer 2

Facing forward, this is anything to the right of the boat. Same deal as “port”–only the opposite.

Question 3

Bow/Stern

Answer 3

The bow is the front of the boat, the stern is the back. Anything near the front of the boat is referred to as being “forward,” and anything toward the back is “aft” or “astern.”

Question 4

Point of Sail

Answer 4

The boat’s direction relative to the wind. For example, if you’re going straight into the wind, your point of sail is called “in irons.” (Note: This isn’t a good place to be!) If the wind is blowing straight over the side of the boat, that’s called a “beam reach.”

Question 5

How many points of sail, and what are they?

Answer 5

8 commonly used points of sail. On each side: close hauled, close reach; beam reach; broad reach. There’s also running and in irons.

Question 6

Helm

Answer 6

Where you steer the boat. Usually this is a big wheel, but on smaller boats it can be a tiller, which is basically a long wooden stick. Either of these can be used to control the boat’s rudder.

Question 7

Heeling

Answer 7

This is the term for when a sailboat leans over in the water, pushed by the wind.

Question 8

Tack

Answer 8

This term has two distinct meanings, both of them very important. As a verb, to tack is to change direction by turning the bow of the boat through the wind. As a noun, your tack is the course you are on relative to the wind. For example, if the wind is blowing over the port side, you are on a port tack. If it’s blowing over the starboard side, you’re on a…you guessed it…starboard tack.

Question 9

Jibe

Answer 9

A jibe is another way of changing direction, in which you bring the stern of the boat through the wind. Whether you choose to tack or jibe entirely depends on the situation–what’s around you, and the direction of the wind.

Question 10

Windward

Answer 10

The side of the boat closest to the wind. When heeling over, this will always be the high side.

Question 11

Leeward

Answer 11

The side of the boat furthest from the wind. When heeling over, this will always be the low side.

Question 12

Lines

Answer 12

On board a boat, this is what you say instead of “ropes.”

Question 13

Mainsail

Answer 13

The big triangular sail just aft of the sailboat’s mast. As the name suggests, this is the boat’s largest and most important sail. Running along its bottom edge, the mainsail has a thick pole called the boom.

Question 14

Jib

Answer 14

The next most common sail on any boat. The jib can always be found forward of the mast, and unlike the mainsail, does not have a boom.

Question 15

Shroud

Answer 15

A wire or cable holding up the mast athwartships (side to side); as in:
Each shroud on this boat is made from stainless cable.

Question 16

Spreader

Answer 16

A horizontal support for the stays that sticks out from the mast; as in:
The spreader holds the shroud out which increases the strength of the rig.

Question 17

Shackle

Answer 17

A metal device that secures a line to another object; as in: The outhaul is attached to the clew of the mainsail with a shackle.

Question 18

Clew

Answer 18

The corner of a sail

Question 19

Tiller

Answer 19

An appendage increasing leverage on the rudder to steer the boat; as in: You
must push the tiller the opposite way you want the bow to move.

Question 20

Points of sail

Answer 20

With wind going south, if you are pointing into it, you are in irons.

If just off the wind (~30 degrees), close hauled on either side.

A bit more off the wind (~60 degrees), close reach on either side.

If perpendicular to the wind (~90 degrees), beam reach on either side.

If going with the wind but at an angle (~120 degrees), broad reach on either side.

If going with the wind, you are running.