Terminology Flashcards
abeam
directly to the side of the boat
about
on the opposite tack
aft
at or near the stern
alee
to the leeward side
aloft
above the deck
apparent wind
the direction and speed of the wind felt by the crew; combination of the true wind and that created by the motion of the boat
astern
behind the boat
backstay
any single wire supporting the mast from the stern
beam
measurement of the width of a boat
beam reach
sailing with the wind coming across the boat’s beam
beam wind
a wind at right angles to a boat’s course
bear away
to steer the boat away from the wind
beat
sailing against the wind by tacking (sailing a zigzag course towards the wind)
beating to windward
to sail to windward close-hauled, tacking as you go, to reach an objective to windward
bow
the forward part of a boat
broach
turn sideways to wind and the surf
broad reach
the point of sailing between a beam reach and a run, when the wind blows over the quarter
center of effort (COE)
the point at which all the forces acting on the sails are concentrated
center of lateral resistance (CLR)
the underwater center of pressure about which a boat pivots when changing course
centerboard
retractable keel to stop a boat’s leeward drift
close-hauled
sailing close to the wind with sails pulled in
close reach
the point of sailing between close-hauled and a beam reach, when the wind blows forward of the beam
come about
to change course so as to be sailing at the same angle but with the wind on the other side
course
the direction in which a vessel is steered, usually given in degrees
daggerboard
centerboard that does not pivot
eye of the wind
direction from which the true wind is blowing
falling off
turn away from the direction of the wind
foot
a sail’s lower edge
fore
at or toward the boat’s bow
fore-and-aft
lengthwise, in the direction of the keel
foremast
mast nearest to the bow
forestay
the foremost stay, running from the masthead to the bow
furl
tightly roll up a sail
halyard
line used for hoisting sails
hard-a-lee
to put the tiller all the way down toward the leeward side of the boat
head
a sail’s top corner; also a boat’s toilet
headsail
sail forward of the foremast
headstay
a forward stay
headway
moving forward
heel
a boat’s angle to horizontal, to lean over to one side
hull
the body of boat
in irons
to head into the wind and refuse to fall off
jibing
changing direction with the wind aft; to change from one tack to another by turning the stern through the wind; also spelled gybing
jibsheet
line that controls the jib
keel
centerline backbone at the bottom of a boat
lee
the side opposite that from which the wind blows; the opposite of weather
lee helm
the tendency of a boat to swing leeward unless held on course
leeward
away from the wind; the direction to which the wind blows, down wind
line
any length of rope that has a specified use
luff
to get so close to the wind that the sail flaps; also the forward edge of a sail
luff up
to turn the boat’s head right into the wind
mainmast
principal mast on a boat
mainsail
boomed sail projecting aft from the mainmast
mainsheet
line that controls the main boom
make fast
secure a line
mast
vertical spar to which the sails and rigging are attached
masthead
top of the mast
on the wind
close-hauled
point
to head close to the wind
point of sail
the different angles from the wind on which a boat may sail; the boat’s course relative to the direction of the wind
port
the left-hand side of a boat, looking forward towards the bow (opposite of starboard)
port tack
when a boat sails with the main boom to starboard and wind hits the port side first
privileged vessel
a boat that has the right-of-way (ROW)
reach
sailing on a tack with the wind roughly abeam, all sailing points between running and close-hauled
ready about
order to prepare for coming about
rudder
vertical metal or wooden plate attached to the stern, whose movements steer the boat
run
to sail with the wind aft and with the sheets eased out
sheet
line that controls a sail or the movement of a boom
starboard
right-hand side of a boat looking forward towards the bow (opposite of port)
starboard tack
tack on which the wind strikes the starboard side first and the boom is out to port
stern
after end of a boat
tack
the lower forward corner of the sail, where the luff and the foot meet; also the diagonal made with the wind by a sailboat when close-hauled, (to change from one tack to another by coming about)
tacking
working to windward by sailing close-hauled on alternate courses so that the wind is first on one side of the boat, then on the other
tiller
short piece of wood by which the rudder is turned
topsides
the part of a boat’s hull which is above the waterline
wake
a boat’s track, behind
weather
windward, opposite of leeward
weather side
the side of a boat on which the wind is blowing
windward
the direction from which the wind blows, towards the wind (opposite of leeward)
jib
a triangular headsail set on a stay forward of the foremast
