Sailing Glossary

The front of the boat.

The back of the boat.

The left-hand side when facing forward.

The right-hand side when facing forward.

The main body of the boat that sits in the water.

The heavy fin under the hull that provides stability and resists sideways slip.

The underwater blade at the stern used to steer.

The control connected to the rudder for steering.

The vertical spar that supports the sails.

The horizontal spar along the foot of the mainsail.

The principal sail set behind the mast.

The sail set forward of the mast.

A line used to hoist a sail.

A line used to control the angle of a sail.

A drum that gives mechanical advantage to tension lines.

A fitting used to secure a line.

To turn the bow through the wind.

To turn the stern through the wind.

Sailing as close to the wind as efficiently possible.

Sailing with the wind on the side of the boat.

Sailing with the wind behind the boat.

The flapping of a sail that is eased too far or pointing too high.

Small ribbons on a sail that indicate airflow and trim.

To reduce the area of a sail in strong wind.

To stop the boat at sea by backing the headsail against the main.

The sideways lean of the boat under sail.

The arc directly upwind where a yacht cannot sail.

The international rules for preventing collisions at sea.

A red or green buoy marking the side of a channel.

A yellow-and-black buoy indicating safe water by compass direction.

The direction to an object, measured in degrees.

Navigating by visual references near the coast.

A wearable buoyancy aid that keeps a person afloat.

Gear that clips you to the boat to prevent falling overboard.

A pyrotechnic distress signal.

Man overboard — a crew member has fallen into the water.

A scale describing wind strength from 0 (calm) to 12 (hurricane).

One nautical mile per hour.

A sudden, brief increase in wind strength.

The rise and fall of sea level caused by the moon and sun.