GENERAL INFO
Introductory Handbook
for Sailing Boats
SAILING DICTIONARY
abaft extra super salty talk for "aft of", as in "abaft the mast".
aft toward the stern of a boat or behind it.
anchor metal device for taking mud samples and keeping Lidos off rocks.
backwind hold a sail so the wind pushes its backside.
beam reach sailing at 90 degrees to the wind's direction.
beating zigzagging upwind, sailing closehauled and coming about.
block nautical term for a pulley.
boom horizontal pole that holds the bottom of the mainsail; named after the sound it makes when hitting your head.
boom vang line that keeps the boom at right angles to the mast
bow the front (pointy) end of the boat.
bow painter line attached to the bow; used to tie the boat to the dock, etc.
bowline pronounced bo' linn, super salty knot with loopy end--see knots section.
broach to round up uncontrollably from a run to a beam reach, heeling over. "If broaching sideway to the sea, our dropsied ship may founder by the lee".
broad reach sailing at 90 to 135 degrees to the wind direction.
capsize when a boat tips over.
centerboard fin under boat to prevent sideways sailing; swings up for storage.
centerboard downhaul stretchy cord, pull to make centerboard go down.
centerboard uphaul regular line, pull and cleat it to hold centerboard in up or partially up position.
chainplate metal piece on boat that attaches shrouds (wires that hold mast up).
cleat (noun) device for holding lines such as jib sheets or halyards.
cleat (verb) fasten a line using a cleat.
clew aft corner of a sail (where the outhaul pulls it out, "without a clew").
close hauled sailing at about 45 degrees to the wind direction.
close reach sailing at between 45 and 90 degrees to the wind direction.
come about to turn the boat up into the wind and over to change the side the sails are on (also called "tack").
cunningham line used to pull down on the luff (front edge) of the sail.
dinghy a little open boat.
fairlead ring used to guide lines.
fall off turn the boat more downwind.
foot bottom edge of a sail.
forestay the wire between the bow and mast, which keeps the mast from falling backwards when the jib is off.
gooseneck fitting that attaches the boom to the mast with a flexible joint.
halyard line used to lift the sails; from "haul yard" since square-rigged boats had yards that were hauled up to lift their sails.
hank plastic or metal clip or snap to hold jib on forestay.
head top corner of the sail.
head up turn the boat more upwind.
heavy weather strong winds and waves, possible 60's origin.
heel a boat's leaning over to one side, usually because of the wind.
hike out move your weight out to balance the sails' force, by sitting out on the rail above the seat.
hiking stick extension on the tiller for steering while hiked out.
hull the floating parts of a boat, not including sails, etc.
in irons pointing into the wind.
jib small sail in front of boat, hooked onto forestay.
jibe turn away from the wind to cause the sails to flip over to the other side of the boat.
jib sheet line that controls the trim (angle to the wind) of the jib.
kedging salty talk for throwing out the anchor and hauling in to move the boat.
knots nautical miles per hour; 1 knot = approx 1.1 mph.
leech aft (rear) edge of a sail.
leeward downwind; pronounced "lew' ard".
lido cheap boat that holds 4 and goes 3, both maximum.
luff verb when sails flap because they're not pulled in, or to turn the boat into the wind or let out the sails so that the sails luff.
luff noun forward edge of the sail.
mainsail big sail in back.
mainsheet line that controls the trim (angle to the wind) of the mainsail.
mast long vertical pole that holds the sails up.
outhaul line that pulls on the clew of the mainsail.
padeye metal dohickey with a ring on it for attaching stuff.
p.f.d. what it's like when there's no wind, or lifejacket.
pinching sailing at less than 45 degrees to the wind, with the sails partly luffing.
port left side of the boat when you are facing forward.
port tack sailing with the mainsail on the starboard side of the boat.
reach sailing with the wind coming over the side of the boat.
reefing tying up the bottom of the sail to avoid being overpowered.
rigging the hardware on a boat, or putting the sails and other pieces on a boat.
rudder big movable fin that helps one to steer a boat.
run (opposite of reach) sailing with the wind coming over the stern.
sculling rowing the boat, i.e. by swinging the tiller back and forth.
shackle snap or locking ring used to connect lines, sails, spars, and blocks.
shroud a wire that keeps the mast from falling over sideways.
starboard right side of the boat when you are facing forward.
starboard tack sailing with the mainsail on the port side of the boat.
stern the back end of a boat, usually the square end.
tack verb change tacks, usually by coming about.
tack noun the forward and lower corner of a sail, ("tack it down")
tack noun as in port tack and starboard tack; a boat's heading as determined by the side that its sails are on.
tiller stick for steering, attached to the rudder.
trailer dolly for moving trailers, looks like push lawn mower.
transom the flat part of the stern.
traveler metal bar or other fitting that holds mainsheet block.
true wind the wind direction as seen by a stationary observer.
whitecaps white foamy tops on the waves caused by high winds.
windward upwind; also called "to weather".
