Sailing Terms and Definitions

Beam Reach

(point of sail) sailing in a direction at approximately 90 degrees to the wind.

Broad reach

(point of sail) sailing in a direction with the wind at the rear corner of the boat (approximately 135 degrees from the bow).

Close reach

(point of sail) sailing in a direction with the wind forward of the beam (about 70 degrees from the bow).

Run

(point of sail) sailing with the wind coming directly behind the boat.

lead line

(pronounced led) a marked and weighted line (originally with a lead weight) fro measuring depth

rowlock

(pronounced rollock) dinghy fitting for holding an oar

Sheet

1. - (noun) the line which is used to control the sail lateraly by easing it out or trimming it in. 2. - (verb) to trim a sail.

Tack

1. - a course on which the wind comes over one side of the boat, i.e., port tack, starboard tack. 2. - to change direction by turning the bow through the wind. 3. - the lower forward corner of a sail.

Outboard

1. - outside the rail of a boat. 2. - a portable engine.

Telltales

1. - pieces of yarn or sailcloth material attached to sails which indicate when the sail is properly trimmed. 2. - wind direction indicators attached to standing rigging.

Set

1. - the direction of a current. 2. - to trim the sails.

Lift

1. - the force that results from air passing by a sail, or water past a keel, that moves the boat forward then sideways. 2. - a change in wind direction which lets the boat head up.

Luff

1. - the forward edge of a sail. 2. - the fluttering of a sail caused by aiming too close to the wind.

Port

1. - the left side of a boat when facing forward. 2. - a harbor. 3. - a window in a cabin on a boat.

Bottom

1. - the underside of the boat. 2. - the land under the water.

Dock

1. - the wooden structure where a boat may be tied up. 2. - the act of bringing the boat to rest alongside the structure.

Trim

1. - to pull in on a sheet. 2. - how a sail is set relative to the wind.

log

1. a book in which a vessel's activities and navigation details are recorded; 2. a device (now usually electronic) for measuring a vessel's speed and distance run

veer

1. to ease out more line; 2. the wind is said to veer when it changes in a clockwise direction

Rig

2. - the design of a boat's mast(s), standing rigging, and sail plan. 2. - to prepare a boat to go sailing.

Channel

A (usually narrow) path in the water, marked by buoys, in which the water is deep enough to sail.

Boom vang

A block and tackle system which pulls the boom down to assist sail control.

Adrift

A boat drifting without control.

Knockdown

A boat heeled so far that one of its spreaders touches the water.

Hove-to

A boat that has completed the process of heaving-to, with its jib aback, its main loosely trimmed, and its rudder securely positioned to steer it close to the wind.

Overtaking

A boat that is catching up to another boat and about to pass it.

In irons

A boat that is head-to-wind, making no forward headway.

Overpowered

A boat that is heeling too far because it has too much sail up for the amount of wind.

Aground

A boat whose keel is touching the bottom.

Catboat

A boat with only a mainsail and the mast located at the bow.

Stability

A boat's ability to resist tipping (heeling).

Dodger

A canvas protection in front of the cockpit of some boats that is designed to keep spray off the skipper and crew.

Fairway

A channel

Fetch

A course on which a boat can make its destination without having to tack.

Bear or Beating

A course sailed upwind.

Winch

A deck-mounted drum with a handle offering mechanical advantage used to trim sheets. Winches may also be mounted on the mast to assist in raising sails.

Lull

A decrease in wind speed for a short duration.

Nautical mile

A distance of 6076 feet, equaling one minute of the earth's latitude.

Spring line

A dock line running forward or aft from the boat to the dock to keep the boat from moving forward or aft.

Gudgeon

A fitting attached to the stern of a boat into which the pintles of a rudder are inserted.

Fairlead

A fitting that guides a jib sheet or other lines back to the cockpit or along the deck.

Cleat

A fitting that is used to secure a line.

Buoy

A floating marker.

Chock

A guide mounted on the deck through which dock lines and anchor rode are run.

Tiller extension

A handle attached to the tiller which allows the helmsman to sit further out to the side.

Foresail

A jib or a genoa.

Headsail

A jib, genoa, or staysail. A sail hoisted forward of the mast and set on the forestay

Figure 8 knot

A knot designed to act as a stopper in the end of a line that takes the form of an eight.

Hatch

A large covered opening in the deck.

Genoa (jib)

A large jib whose clew extends aft of the mast and whose leech overlaps the mast

Bow line (BOW - line)

A line running from the bow of the boat to the dock or mooring.

Cunningham

A line running through a grommet about eight inches up from the tack of a mainsail that is used to tighten the luff of the sail.

Halyard

A line used to hoist or lower a sail.

Topping lift

A line used to hold the boom up when the mainsail is lowered or stowed.

Downhaul

A line used to pull down on the movable gooseneck on some boats to tighten the luff of the mainsail. The cunningham has the same function on other boats.

Dockline

A line used to secure the boat to the dock.

Tiller

A long handle, extending into the cockpit, which directly controls the rudder.

Figure 8 rescue

A maneuver used to return to a person or object in the water.

Quick stop rescue

A maneuver used to return to a person or object in the water.

Fathom

A measurement of the depth of water. One fathom equals six feet.

Turnbuckle

A mechanical fitting attached to the lower ends of stays, allowing for the standing rigging to be adjusted.

Roller furling

A mechanical system to roll up a headsail (jib) around the headstay.

Shackle

A metal fitting at the end of a line used to attach the line to a sail or another fitting.

Chart

A nautical map.

Line

A nautical rope.

Slip

A parking area for a boat between two docks in a marina.

Mooring

A permanently anchored ball or buoy to which a boat can by tied.

Fitting

A piece of nautical hardware.

Centerboard

A pivoting board that can be lowered and used like a keel to keep a boat from slipping to leeward.

Marlinspike

A pointed tool used to loosen knots.

Spar

A pole used to attach a sail on a boat, for example, the mast, the boom, a gaff.

Boat hook

A pole with a hook on the end used for grabbing hold of a mooring or retrieving something that has fallen overboard.

Whisker pole

A pole, temporarily mounted between the mast and the clew of a jib, used to hold the jib out and keep it full when sailing downwind.

Block

A pulley on a boat.

Jiffy reef

A quick reefing system allowing a section of the mainsail to be tied to the boom.

Nun

A red, even-numbered, cone-shaped buoy marking the right side of a channel as you return to port. Nuns are usually paired with cans.

Grommet

A reinforcing metal ring set in a sail.

Fender

A rubber bumper used to protect a boat by keeping it from hitting a dock.

Tackle

A sequence of blocks and line that provides a mechanical advantage.

Toe rail

A short aluminum or wooden rail around the outer edges of the deck.

Breast line

A short dock line leading off the beam of the boat directly to the dock.

Squall

A short intense storm with little warning.

Cutter

A single-masted boat with the mast near the middle that is capable of flying both a jib and a staysail.

Sloop

A single-masted sailboat with mainsail and headsail.

Lubber's line

A small post in a compass used to help determine a course or a bearing.

Dinghy

A small sailboat or rowboat.

Daysailer

A small sailboat.

Hank

A snap hook that is used to connect the luff of a jib onto the forestay.

Pushpit

A stainless steel guardrail at the stern of some boats.

Forepeak

A storage area in the bow (below the deck).

Lazarette

A storage compartment built into the cockpit or deck.

Rhumb line

A straight course between two points.

Hiking strap

A strap used by people hiking out that holds their feet.

Spreader

A support strut extending athwart ships from the mast used to supports the mast and guide the shrouds from the top of the mast to the chainplates.

Batten

A thin wooden or plastic strip inserted into pocket on the back part (leach) of a sail

Trimaran

A three-hulled sailing vessel

Traveler

A track or bridle that controls sideways (athwart ships) movement of the mainsail.

Catamaran

A twin-hulled sailing vessel with a deck or trampoline between the hulls.

Ketch

A two masted boat with its mizzen (after) mast shorter than its mainmast and located forward of the rudder post.

Schooner

A two-masted boat whose foremast is usually shorter than its mainmast.

Yawl

A two-masted boat with its mizzen (after) mast shorter than its mainmast and located aft of the rudder post.

Seacock

A valve which opens and closes a hole through the hull for saltwater needed on board or discharge.

Skeg

A vertical fin in front of the rudder.

Flooding

A vessel taking on water.

Bulkhead

A wall that runs athwart ships on a boat, usually providing structural support to the hull.

Barometer

A weather forecasting instrument that measures air pressure.

Masthead fly

A wind direction indictator on top of the mast.

Header

A wind shift which makes your boat head down or sails to be sheeted in.

Land breeze

A wind that blows over land and out to sea.

Sea breeze

A wind that blows over the sea and onto the land.

Stay

A wire support for a mast, part of the standing rigging.

PFD

Abbreviation for Personal Floatation Device; a lifejacket.

USCG

Abbreviation for United States Coast Guard

Athwartships

Across the boat from side to side.

No-Go Zone

An area into the wind in which a boat cannot produce power to sail.

Luff tape

An attachment to the luff of a sail consisting of a small, internal boltrope inserted into the luff groove on a roller furling system.

Jury rig

An improved, temporary repair.

Flood (tide)

An incoming current.

Puff

An increase in wind speed for a short duration.

Can

An odd-numbered, green, flat-topped buoy marking the left side of a channel as you return to port.

Ebb (tide)

An outgoing current.

Broach

An uncontrolled rounding up into the wind, usually from a downwind point of sail.

Aft

At or toward the stern or behind the boat.

Offshore

Away from or out of sight of land.

Downwind

Away from the direction of the wind.

Astern

Behind the stern of the boat.

Crew

Besides the skipper, anyone on board who helps sail the boat.

Points of sail

Boat directions in relation to wind direction, i.e., close-hauled, beam reaching, broad reaching, and running.

Scupper

Cockpit or deck drain.

Swamped

Filled with water.

Fore

Forward

Tide-Over

From the days of sail and with special reference to the English Channel where outward bound ships could make very little progress against the incoming tidal stream and the prevailing south west wind. In such conditions they would frequently tide over or anchor for those hours when the tide was against them. Hence to rest up and let the difficulties sort themselves out.

Gear

Generic term for sailing equipment.

GPS

Global Positioning System - an electronic navigation system now used by many yachts

Magnetic

In reference to magnetic north rather than true north.

Inboard

Inside of the rail of a boat.

Lee shore

Land which is on the leeward side of the boat. Because the wind is blowing in that direction, a lee shore could pose a danger.

Navigation Rules

Laws established to prevent collisions on the water.

Rode

Line and chain attached from the boat to the anchor.

Running rigging

Lines and hardware used to control the sails.

Secure

Make safe or cleat.

Full

Not luffing.

Abeam

Off the side of (at right angle to) the boat.

Staysail (STAY-sil)

On a cutter, a second small "inner jib," attached between the bow and the mast.

Gaff

On some boats, a spar along the top edge of a four-sided sail.

Aboard

On the boat.

Reach

One of several points of sail across the wind. to sail with the wind on or near the beam

Headway

Progress made forward.

Fend off

Push off.

Chop

Rough, short, steep waves

Singlehanded

Sailing alone.

Wing-and-wing

Sailing downwind with the jib set on the opposite side of the mainsail.

Off the wind

Sailing downwind.

Dead downwind

Sailing in a direction straight downwind.

By the lee

Sailing on a run with the wind coming over the same side of the boat as the boom.

Port tack

Sailing on any point of sail with the wind coming over the port side of the boat.

Starboard tack

Sailing on any point of sail with the wind coming over the starboard side of the boat.

Pinching

Sailing too close to the wind.

On the wind

Sailing upwind, close-hauled.

Fast

Secured.

Fall off

See Head down.

Gust

See Puff.

Head off

See head down.

Hiking stick

See tiller extension.

Weather side

See windward side.

Leeway

Sideways slippage of the boat in a direction away from the wind.

Pintle

Small extensions on a rudder that slides into a gudgeon on the transom. The gudgeon/pintle fitting allows the rudder to swing back and forth.

Stanchions

Stainless steel supports at the endue of the deck which holds the lifelines.

Chainplates

Strong metal plates which connect the shrouds to the boat.

Heavy weather

Strong winds and large waves.

Mainsheet

THe controlling line for the mainsail.

Fouled

Tangled or clogged.

Buoyancy

The ability of an object to float.

True wind

The actual speed and direction of the wind when standing still.

Stern

The aft part of the boat.

Range

The alignment of two objects that indicate the middle of a channel.

Ground tackle

The anchor and rode (chain and line).

Rake

The angle of the mast.

Step

The area in which the base of the mast fits.

Below

The area of a boat beneath the deck.

Weather helm

The boat's tendency to head up toward the wind, which occurs when a sailboat is overpowered.

Lee helm

The boat's tendency to turn away from the wind.

Hull

The body of the boat, excluding rig and sails.

Foot

The bottom edge of a sail.

Holding ground

The bottom ground in an anchorage used to hold the anchor.

Balance

The capability of a boat to sail straight without changing the tiller position.

Hard a-lee

The command given to the crew just prior to tacking.

Ready to jibe

The command given to the crew to prepare to jibe.

Ready about

The command given to the crew to prepare to tack.

Jibe-ho

The command given to the crew when starting a jibe.

S-Jibe

The controlled method of jibing with the mainsail crossing the boat under control and the boat's path making an "S" shaped course.

Outhaul

The controlling line attached to the clew of a mainsail used to tension the foot of the sail.

Head-to-wind

The course of the boat when the bow is dead into the wind.

Draft

The depth of a boat's keel from the water surface.

Leeward (LEW-erd)

The direction away from the wind (where the wind is blowing to).

Bearing

The direction from one object to another expressed in compass degrees.

Course

The direction in which the boat is steered.

Glide zone

The distance a sailboat takes to coast to a stop.

Gunwale (GUN-el)

The edge of the deck where it meets the topsides.

Bitter end

The end of a line.

Push-pull principle

The explanation of how sails generate power.

Gooseneck

The fitting that connects the boom to the mast.

Sole

The floor in a cockpit or cabin.

Bow

The forward part of the boat.

Stem

The forward tip of the bow. The timber at the extreme forward end of the boat, secured to the forward end of the keel and supporting the bow planks.

Sheave

The grooved wheel inside a block or fitting.

Keel

The heavy vertical fin beneath a boat that helps keep it upright and prevents it from slipping sideways in the water.

Freeboard

The height of the hull above the water's surface.

Waterline

The horizontal line on the hull of a boat where the water surface should be.

Current

The horizontal movement of water caused by tides, wind and other forces.

Cabin

The interior of the boat.

Splice

The joining of two lines together by interweaving their strands.

Mast

The large aluminum or wooden pole in the middle of a boat from which the mainsail his set.

Working sheet

The leeward jib sheet that is being used to trim the jib.

Low side

The leeward side of the boat.

Cockpit

The lower area in which the steering controls and sail controls are located.

Bilge

The lowest part of the boat's interior, where water on board will collect.

Compass

The magnetic instrument which indicates the direction in which the boat is headed.

Working sails

The mainsail and standard jib.

Centerline

The midline of a boat running from bow to stern.

Headstay

The most forward forestay. The line from the bow or bowsprit to the top of the mast. This keeps the mast from falling toward the rear of the boat. The headstay is the farthest forward of all the stays on the boat.

Deck

The mostly flat surface area on top of the boat.

Rail

The outer edges of the deck.

Standing rigging

The permanent rigging (usually wire) of a boat, including the forestay, backstay, and shrouds.

Skipper

The person in charge of the boat.

Helmsman

The person responsible for steering the boat.

Close-hauled

The point of sail that is closest to the wind.

Sail cover

The protective cover used to preserve sails when they are not in use.

Scope

The ratio of the a mount of anchor rode deployed to the distance from the bow to the bottom.

Headboard

The reinforcing small board affixed to the head of a sail.

Right-of-way

The right of the stand-on vessel to hold its course.

Tide

The rise and fall of water level due to the gravitational pull of the sun and moon.

Bolt rope

The rope sewn into the foot and luff of some mainsails and the luff of some jibs by which the sails are attached to the boat.

Roach

The sail area aft of a straight line running from the head to the clew of a sail.

Mainsail (MAIN-sil)

The sail hoisted on the mast of a sloop or cutter or the sail hoisted on the mainmast of a ketch or yawl.

Coaming

The short protective wall surrounding the cockpit.

Windward side

The side of a boat or sail closest to the wind.

Topsides

The sides of the boat between the waterline and the deck.

Luff groove

The slot into which the luff of a sail is inserted.

Mizzen

The small aftermost sail on a ketch or yawl hoisted on the mizzen mast.

Boom

The spar extending directly aft from the mast to which the foot of the mainsail is attached.

Boat speed

The speed of a boat through the water.

Forestay

The standing rigging running from the bow to the mast to which the jib is yanked on.

Backstay

The standing rigging running from the stern to the top of the mast, keeping the mast from falling forward.

Mast step

The structure that the bottom of the mast sits on.

Mainmast

The taller of two masts on a boat.

Hull speed

The theoretical maximum speed of a sailboat determined by the length of its waterline.

Helm

The tiller.

Masthead

The top of the mast.

Compass rose

The twin circles on a chart which indicate the direction of true north and magnetic north.

Rudder

The underwater fin that is controlled by the tiller to deflect water and steer the boat.

Stand-on vessel

The vessel or boat with the right-of-way.

Give-way vessel

The vessel required to give way to another boat when they may be on a collision course.

Displacement

The weight of a boat; therefore the amount of water it displaces.

Apparent Wind

The wind aboard a moving boat.

Lazy sheet

The windward side jib sheet that is not under strain.

High side

The windward side of the boat.

Rigging

The wires and lines used to support and control sails.

Tune

To adjust a boat's standing rigging.

Bend

To attach a sail to a spar or a headstay, or to attach a line to a sail. a knot used for joining two ropes.

Underway

To be under the power of sail or engine.

Whip

To bind together the strange at the end of a line.

Jibe

To change direction of a boat by steering the stern through the wind.

Steer

To control the direction of a boat, using the tiller or wheel, in order to maintain the desired course.

Pay out

To ease a line.

Bail

To empty a boat of water.

Head down

To fall off or bear away, changing course away from the wind.

Bear Away

To fall off, alter course, by heading away from the wind.

Snub

To hold a line under tension by wrapping it on a winch or cleat.

Tail

To hold and pull a line from behind a winch.

Heave-to

To hold one's position in the water by using the force of the sails and rudder to counter one another.

Flake

To lay out a line on deck using larger loops to keep it from becoming tangled.

heeling

To lean sideways under the pressure of the wind on the sails

Ease

To let out a line or sail.

Coil

To loop a line neatly so it can be stored.

Reeve

To pass a line through a cringe or block.

Lead (LEED)

To pass a line through a fitting or a block.

Hike

To position crew members out over the windward rail to help balance the boat.

Scull

To propel a boat by swinging the rudder back and forth.

Cast off

To release a line when leaving a dock or mooring.

Depower

To release the power from the sails by allowing them to luff or making them flatter. This is done to reduce heel.

Shake out

To remove a reef and restore the full sail.

Charter

To rent a boat.

Lay

To sail a course that will clear an obstacle without tacking.

Point

To steer close to the wind.

Back

To stop or to propel a boat backward by holding the clew of a sail out to windward.

Stow

To store properly.

Unrig

To stow sails and rigging when the boat is not in use.

Heave

To throw.

Lash

To tie down.

Haul in

To tighten a line.

Capsize

To tip or turn a boat over.

Hard over

To turn the tiller as far as possible in one direction.

Blanket

To use a sail or object to block the wind from filling a sail.

Kedge off

To use an anchor to pull a boat into deeper water after it has run aground.

Forward

Toward the bow.

Amidships

Toward the center of the boat.

Upwind

Toward the direction of the wind.

Prevailing wind

Typical or consistent wind conditions.

Foul-weather gear

Water-resistant clothing.

Wake

Waves caused by a moat moving through the water.

Following sea

Waves hitting the boat from astern.

Chafe

Wear on a line caused by rubbing.

Ballast

Weight in the keel of a boat that provides stability.

Starboard

When looking from the stern toward the bow, the right side of the boat.

Offshore wind

Wind blowing off (away from) the land.

Lifeline

Wire supported by stanchions, around the outside of of the deck to help prevent crew members from falling overboard.

head/heads

a boat's WC

ensign

a country's maritime flag

fairlead

a deck fitting giving a 'fair lead' to a dock line

kicking strap

a device, usually a tackle between the foot of the mast and the underside of the boom that prevents the boom from lifting. Modern yachts may use a solid fitting

lanyard

a line fastened to an object such as a pail, whistle, knife for the purposes of securing it.

preventer

a line or tackle rigged to the boom to prevent an accidental gybe while running

cringle

a metal or plastic eye set into a sail

strake

a row of planks in the hull.

anchor buoy

a small buoy sometimes used to mark the position of the anchor

jumper

a stay on the upper forward part of the mast.

marconi

a tall mast used with a jib headed rig.

warp

alternative name for a mooring line, also anchor warp

Fairlead Eye

an open fairlead for anchor lines on the bow (not used on Laser)

vang

another name for a kicking strap

shoal

area of shallow water

daggerboard

board that can be raised and lowered in a dinghy to provide a keel

cordage

collective term of ropes and lines

sounding

depth of water at any particular place

echo sounder

electronic instrument for measuring the depth of water under a vessel

transom

flat stern of a boat

bowline (Boe-lin)

important knot for making a loop in a rope's end

Windward

in the direction toward the wind source, or where the wind is blowing from

awash

just level with the surface of the water, e.g. a rock that is just visible

spinnaker

light, balloon-shaped sail set forward of the mast when a boat is running before the wind

painter

line attached to the bow of a dinghy to secure or tow it

beacon

mark on the shore (or on a rock) to assist navigation

pulpit

metal frame at the bow of a yacht to which lifelines are attached

knot

nautical unit of speed: one nautical mile (2000 yards or 1852 metres) per hour

shipshape

neat and tidy - as any boat should be

topsides

outside of a boat's hull above the waterline

slack water

period around high water and low water when the tide hardly moves in any direction

Mainsheet Fairlead Block

pulley used to change the direction of the line that controls the main sail

shroud

rigging supporting a mast on either side

furl

roll up or gather up a sail and tie

bridle

rope span with the ends secured for the sheet block to ride on

full-and-by

sailing as close to wind as possible with the sails all full.

beaufort scale

scale used for measuring wind speed

thwart

seat placed across a boat

make fast

secure a line to a cleat

berth

space for sleeping aboard. Also a place where a boat can lie (To give something a 'wide berth' means keeping well clear of it.)

chandlery

store selling clothing, equipment, etc for sailors

sail ties

strips of material used to tie up a sail when it is lowered

leech

the aft edge of a sail

quarter

the aft end of the side of a boat

Turtle the Sailboat

the boat is completely upside-down in the water

Clew

the bottom aft corner of a sail. The clew of the mainsail is held taut by the outhaul. The jib sheets are attached to the clew of the jib.

Heel

the bottom of the mast

draught

the depth of a vessel below the waterline

range (of the tide)

the difference in height between high and low water

heading

the direction in which a boat is pointing, expressed in compass degrees.

companionway

the main hatchway from the deck down to a yacht's cabin

bight

the middle of a rope, not the ends. a loop in a line.

Thunderstorm

the most serious weather danger to small boats

Tacking

the preferred method of changing direction in very heavy winds

Main Sail

the sail which is attached to the mast and boom

lee

the side of a vessel away from the wind. 'In the lee' means sheltered from the wind

head

the topmost corner of a sail

peak

the upper after comer of a gaff sail.

beam

the widest part of a boat's hull

spring tides

tides with the greatest rise and fall (around full and new moon)

neap tides

tides with the smallest rise and fall

luff up, head up

to alter a boat's course by turning up into the wind

go about

to alter course so that the bow passes through the wind

gybe

to alter course when sailing so that the stern passes through the wind

claw off

to clear a lee shore

harden in

to haul in a sheet, e.g. 'harden in the main'

belay

to make fast or secure

careen

to place a boat on her sides so that work may be carried out on her underwater parts

reef

to reduce sail area when the wind strength increases

Head Up

to turn the boat toward the wind

Come About

to turn the bow of a sailboat through the wind, so that the sails fill on the opposite side, see Tack.

jib

triangular sail carried forward of the mast attac hed to the forestay

burgee

triangular yacht club flag

whipping

twine bound round the end of a rope to prevent it from fraying

Hiking

when a person leans over the side of a boat to counteract heel

riding turn

when one turn jams over another on a winch

Luffing

when the sail is stalling or flapping at its forward edge, or the entire sail is flapping

Jibing

when the stern of your boat passes through the wind while changing directions