Sailing Terms Flashcards
Backstay
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A piece of standing rigging that runs from the mast to either the transom or rear quarter, counteracting the forestay and jib. It is an important sail trim control and has a direct effect on the shape of the mainsail and the headsail.
Kedge Anchor
A kedge anchor is the secondary anchor onboard a yacht.
The primary anchor is usually located on the bow on a bow roller or, alternatively, in the anchor locker. Kedge anchors are usually one size down from the yacht’s primary anchor and as such they are generally easier to use and recover.
Sheet winch
A mechanical device that is used to pull in (wind up) or let out (wind out) a rope attached to a sail
Danbuoy
A danbuoy is a piece of safety equipment designed for the purpose of marking a boat/yacht’s location and therefore the approximate location of the casualty when the skipper, a member of crew or a passenger falls overboard.
Pushpit
On the stern end of the boat the railing system is often called a “pushpit”, which is a play on words referring to the Pulpit end.
Transom
The aft-most section of a boat that connects the port and starboard sections of the hull. “Most people put a boat’s name on the transom, though some put it on the hull sides.”
Ensign
An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate citizenry.
Binnacle
A waist-high case or stand on the deck of a ship, generally mounted in front of the helmsman, in which navigational instruments are placed for easy and quick reference as well as to protect the delicate instruments.
Dodger
A hood forward of a hatch or to the side of a cockpit to protect the crew from wind and spray
Portlight
A window installed in a vessel’s hull. Any shape other than round, which would be called a porthole.
Halyard winch
A winch that controls the halyard (rope) connected to a sail
Guardrail
Barrier to keep from falling off the boat
Bulb Keel
The bulb is a shoal draft fin keel. Basically, you saw off a deep fin keel and attach a torpedo shaped bulb of lead to the keel bottom.
Keel
A keel balances a monohull in the water.
Skeg
A sternward extension of the keel of boats and ships which have a rudder mounted on the centre line.
Bear away
Turn away from the wind
Cleat
A stationary device used to secure a rope aboard a boat
DSC
Digital Selective Calling
A standard for transmitting pre-defined digital messages via the medium-frequency (MF), high-frequency (HF) and very-high-frequency (VHF) maritime radio systems. It is a core part of the Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS).
Fairlead
A ring or hook used to keep a line running in the correct direction or to prevent it fouling.
Fractional rig
A foresail that does not reach the top of the mast.
Halyard
Line used to raise the head (top) of a sail
Head up
Change direction to point closer to the wind
MMSI
A Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) is a series of nine digits which are sent in digital form over a radio frequency channel in order to uniquely identify ship stations, ship earth stations, coast stations, coast earth stations, and group calls.
Overfall
Steep and breaking sea due to opposing currents and wind in a shallow area, or strong currents over a shallow rocky seabed.
Preventer
Sail control line originating at some point on the boom leading to a fixed point on the boat’s deck or rail to prevent or moderate the effects of an accidental jib.
Propwalk
The tendency for a propeller, when rotating, to push the stern sideways.
Ram’s horn
Hook attached to the gooseneck to aid mainsail reefing
Reef
Temporarily reduce the area of a sail exposed to the wind
Roller furling
Method of furling or reefing by rolling a sail around a stay or rotating spar
Shrouds
Pieces of rigging that hold the mast up
Spreader
A spar used to deflect the shrouds to allow them to support the mast
Warp
Rope or cable used when moving a boat in a confined space
Wind indicator
Swiveling device used to determine the direction of the wind in relations to the boat’s heading
What is the keel
a large fin below the boat, lowing its centre of gravity, and increasing stability
What types of keel are there
Long keel, fin keel, bilge keels
Advangaes of long keel
Better directional stability and heavy weather sailing
advantages on fin keel
better handling under light winds,, better manoverability,
advantages of a bilge keel
boat can try out, and be fine
What is a sail drive
A sail drive is a propeler on a vertical post out the bottom of the hull of the boat.
What is a shaft drive
A shaft drive is a properller attached at an angle through the bottom of the hull.
Advantages of Sail drive
Close coupling of engine and drive no alignment or vibration problems and smaller installation. Coupling of engine, drive and prop inherently stronger and less prone to failure. Propellors are often deeper in the water, less prone to fouling and better drive. Less regular routine maintenance of drive train
Advantages of Shaft Drive
More Reliable Less expensive to maintain Failer is less catastrophic
When the setting of the sails causes the boat to turn to windward, what is that called
Weather helm
When the setting of the sails causes the boat to turn to leeward, what is that called
Lee helm
What is the backstay
The large metal wire running from the stern of the boat to the top of the mast. it is part of the standing rigging
What is a Split backstay
2 wires running from the port and starboard quarters and joining at the mast
what is a divided backstay
2 wires running from the port and starboard quarters, joining partway to the mast.
What is the Pushpit
The pushpit is the metal gardrails around the stern of the boat
what is the pullpit
the pulpit is the metal guardrails at the bow of the boat
what are the guard rails running the length of the boat held up by
stanchions
What is one thing that the guardrails cannot be used for
clipping a safety line to
what is the forestay
The wire running from the bow to the head of the mast
what is often found on the forestay
a roller fuller, with the jenny or foresail, rolled around it
What are the 2 uses of the foresail sheet
to control the jenny/foresail during sailing, and to unfurl the sail from the rollerfurler
What is the furling line for
furling the headsail, or adding reefs to the foresail
What are the 4 main components of the standing rigging
forestay, backstay, mast and shrouds
what is a tight footed main
the mainsail being attached using a piped foot which fits into a slot on the top of the boom
what is a loose-footed beam
a mainsail only attached to the boom at the tack and the clew
What is a deck-stepped mast
a mast that ends at the deck of the boat
what is a keel-stepped mast
a mast that goes through the deck and is attached to the keel
What is the topping lift
a wire that is attached to hold the boom in place when sailing close hauled, when sailing with reduced sail area, or when the mainsail is not in use.
What is the kicker of vang
a pully system between the mast and underside of the boom used for controlling sail shape
What is a rod type kicker
a kicker that as well as pulling, also contains a rod that can support the boom when reefing the mainsail
What is the mainsheet
The main sheet is a line running between the cockpit and the boom to control the position of the mainsail
What is the goose kneck
the goose kneck is the conection between the mast and the boom and allows the boom to swing 90deg either side of the boat.
What is the steam head fitting
The conection between the hull and forestay.
what is a bow roller
a plastic roller used to store and deploy the anchor
propeller size
diameter and pitch
ground tackle
anchoring equipment
bilge
place where fumes are most likely to accumulate – area between lower boat deck and hull
headway
forward motion through the water
bollard
post or piling
cavitation
rapid boiling of water, adjacent to a propeller
bitt
device (on the boat) to which an anchor line is secured
shackle
device (at the anchor) for attaching a rode (anchor line) to an anchor
yaw
swing from side to side about a vertical axis – twisting left and right and left and right and left and right….until you puke
pitchpole
turn end over end — bury the bow in the water while a big wave makes the stern flip over the bow – a boatersault fun in a kayak but not otherwise
The propellers of small outboard motors are protected from damage by
shear pins
Check gasoline fuel lines for leaks
before each use of the boat
When you start your outboard motor, check to see that water is coming out of
the telltale — a little hole on the motor that squirts a stream of water so you can tell that the cooling system is working.
The best way to go through shallow water with a stern drive or outboard is to
raise your motor or lower unit slightly and proceed at idle (slow) speed.
If you tuck your outboard or outdrive in too much (lower it too far so that the thrust is pointing somewhat downward), your boat may
plow — push the bow down into the water
When viewed from aft, most boat propellers
are right handed —- which means that they turn clockwise
When the pressure on the flat side of a propeller’s blades is reduced, the water boils and may damage your propeller. This is called
cavitation. It also reduces thrust and the propeller speeds up due to loss of water resistance.
An outboard or a stern drive tilts up or down to adjust its
direction of thrust. - trimming the bow up or down
When leaving a pier in an boat with an outboard or stern drive engine with a wind or current pushing you toward the pier
it is usually easier to back out slowly until you are far enough away from the pier to turn and go forward
If you are turning in a narrow channel and have a strong wind on your stern
hug the RIGHT side of the channel, turn your helm all the way to the opposite shore, and BACK down
For normal scope, the length of the anchor rode should be
SEVEN times the depth of the water
To minimize the violent pitching motion when running into a heavy sea, point your bow
about 45 degrees to either side of the direction from which the waves are coming
When caught in severe weather, you should
reduce speed and head for the nearest SAFE shore
If your vessel runs aground, you should
check for leaks
To improve the efficiency and speed of your outboard or stern drive in smooth water
raise your outboard or outdrive slightly
Deep draft boats are affected most by
the current
What is a fractional rig
a right where the forstay dosnt reach the top of the mast and attaches lower down
names for the sail on the forestay
headsail,foresail,genoa,jenny,jib
whats the disadvantage of furing a foresail in high winds
it loses its shape, resulting in loss in performance
whats an alternitive to furling foresails
hanked on sails that can be replaced with ones for different weather conditions
Describe the system of reefing the mainsail
The mainsail is reefed by using reefint pendants to pull the sail part way down, and then is secured to the boom using reefing eyelets and cord
What are other ways of reefing the mainsail
some mainsails reef by furling into either the boom or mast
What is the head of the sail
the top corner of the sail
what is the headboard of the sail
a stiff wooden board at the top of the sail to help spread the weight of the sail over a large area of fabric
what is the tack of the sail
The furthest forward corner of the sail
what is the clew of the sail
the furthest aft corner of the sail
what are battens used for
to help maintain sail shape
what is a fully battened main
a fully battened main has battens the width of the sail.
What is the roller furling drum for
storing the furling line when the sail is out
What is a masthead rig
A rig where the forestay reaches the top of the mast
What is the luff of the sail
the furthest forward edge of the sail
what is the foot of the sail
the bottom edge of the sail
what is the leech of the sail
the back edge of the sail
Why do the mainsheet a jib sheet need to adjusted alot
they make sure the mainsail and foresail are adjusted properly for the direction of the wind
What is the port bow
the forward part of the boat on the left-hand side
what is the starbord bow
the forward part of the boat on the right-hand side
what is the port quater of the boat
the rear corner of the boat on the left-hand side
what is the starbord quater
the rear corner of the boat on the right-hand side.
What is an emergancy tiller
a metal rod that can be directly attached to the rudder, in case there is a loss of connection between the rudder and the helm
What is the rear of the boat called
the stern
what is the front of the boat called
the bow
what is the middle of a boat called
amidships
what is the cockpit
its the place where the boat is operated from
what would you expect to find in a cockpit
the helm or tiller, winches for operating sails, furling lines, halyards, and a safe comfortable seating area
what is the companionway
the entrance to the interior of the boat.
What are winches used for
they are used to assist in the easeing and hardening of sails, as well as raising sails. some yachts have additional wiches to control other sails
Whats a cleat
a metal fixture for attaching ropes to
Whats a windlass for
raising or lowering the anchor
what is the side of the boat the wind is coming from called
windward
what is the downwind side of the boat called
leeward
what is reversing called for a boat
moving astern
what is moving backwards on a boat called
moving aft
what are spreaders for
they keep the shrouds seperated and viritcal to create more stability
What is sailing at 0-30 deg to the wind called
in irons
what is sailing at 30-40deg to the wind called
close hauled
what is saling at 40-80 deg to the wind called
close reach
what is sailing 80-100deg called
Beam reach
what is sailing 100-160deg called
broad reach
what is sailing 160-180deg called
running
will a boat in irons move
no, as its facing directly into the wind
Cleat
Things to put ropes onto
Guard Rail
Stops you from falling off
P Bracket
Support for drive shaft
Pulpit
Saves you from falling out the front
Stem
Bit at the front that cuts through the water
Topsides
Sides of the vessel above water
Transom
A flat stern
Trim Tab
Control that adjusts how high the bow sits out of water when going fast
Waterline
Where the water comes up to
Warp
Rope used for mooring
