GLOSSARY OF TERMS

[a]

Aft

Referring to the "after end" or stern of the boat.
"We walked aft along the deck."

Auxiliary

An engine in a sailboat used for an additional source, not the main source. Also used to refer to a sailboat with such an engine.

[b]

Bearing off

Steering away from the source of the wind - steering toward the leeward side of one's course. The opposite of "heading up".
"After sailing out of Boston Harbor against a moderate easterly wind, the boat was seen bearing off to the south and heading for Cape Cod Canal."

Bilge

The lowest regions inside the hull of a boat. Most of the water that enters the hull of a boat will find its way to the bilge.
Bilge pump - a pump to remove water from the bilge.

Blowing the bilge

The practice of ventilating the bilge before starting a gasoline engine. It is accomplished with an electric fan that removes the old air and draws in fresh air. The purpose is to avoid the presence of gasses in the bilge that could ignite when the engine is started.

Boom

A horizontal spar, usually made of wood or aluminum, which is attached to the foot, or bottom edge of the mainsail. The boom is attached to the main sheet (a line) which can be adjusted to allow the mainsail to be set close to the centerline of the boat (close hauled) or extended at a greater angle to that center line up to 90 degrees.

Bow

The front of the boat.
In the heavy sea, waves came over the bow.

Buoy

A floating device designed to hold something up on the surface of the water. A ring buoy is a common life saving device that can be thrown to a person in danger of drowning. A mooring buoy holds a line from a heavy mooring on the surface of the water where it is accessible to boats that wish to tie up to that mooring.

[c]

Cleat

An item of marine hardware to which a line (rope) can be conveniently and securely attached.

Close hauled

Having the sails pulled in as close as possible to the middle of the hull of the boat, allowing the boat to sail as the closest possible angle (usually about 45 degrees) to the direction (source) of the wind.

Coming about

The act of changing tacks in a sailboat by steering through the source of the wind. As a result of this act the sails fill on that side of the boat which is opposite the side they were on before coming about.

Concave

Referring to a surface which is not perfectly flat but dish-shaped as the inside of a plate or bowl. The windward side of a full sail takes a concave shape. The opposite of convex.

Convex

Referring to a surface which is not perfectly flat but mound-shaped as the outside of a plate or bowl. The leeward side of a full sail takes a convex shape. The opposite of concave.

Course

The path of an object across a surface. In boating, the path a boat is taking across the surface of the water.
"The boat sailed a course of due West to enter Long Island Sound."

Cockpit

An area aboard a sailboat, usually near the stern, defined by the presence of steering and sail controls and space for the crew to tend such controls.

[d]

Downwind

Going with the wind. Referring to the direction of travel or a location which is the same as the direction of the wind. Opposite of upwind - going against the wind.

[e]

Ease

To allow a line under tension to be pulled out by that tension. In the case of a sheet (line controlling the shape of the sails) it means to let the sheet out, thereby allowing the sail to extend further from the boat.

[f]

Forestay

A piece of rigging (usually wire rope) which supports the mast of a sailboat by running from the formost part of the hull of a boat to a point at the top or part way up the mast. The jib of a sailboat is often attached to this forestay.

[g]

Groove

In sports, referring to the optimum state of balance and performance. In sailing, the course taken with the sails properly set which allows the boat to reach its maximum speed and best angle to the wind for prevailing conditions.
"Our boat was in the groove and we were fast approaching our final destination."

Gybe

An act of changing a sailboat's direction with respect to the wind which causes a sudden swing of the mainsail from one side to the other. The sailboat is headed downwind for this maneuver and the mainsail is usually hauled in to prevent damage or injury.

Gybe ho!

The command given by the helmsperson when the gybe is about to take place.

[h]

Hatch

An opening in the deck of a boat that allows access to compartments below deck. A watertight lid to prevent water from entering the hull of the boat can cover a hatch.

Heading up

The act of turning the boat toward the direction of the wind. Opposite of "bearing off".

Heel

The sideways tip or incline of a sailboat away from horizontal which is caused by pressure sideways on the mast, usually from the wind filling the sails. A strong gust coming from the starboard side caused the boat to heel far to port.

Hull

The body of a sailboat to which the spars, rudder, keel and other fittings are attached. Easy Wind's hull is white with blue stripes at the waterline and just below the deck.

Hull speed

The maximum speed that a boat can travel through the water without planing (skimming across the surface). Hull speed is fixed by a boat's waterline length, the longer the length, the greater the hull speed. Easy Wind's hull speed is about 7 knots.

[i]

Inboard

Located within the hull of the vessel as opposed to outboard - outside the hull. Easy Wind has an inboard engine whereas another sailboat might be powered by an outboard motor.

[j]

Jib

The sail which occupies the foremost position in the rig of a boat. Jibs are triangular in shape and their forward edge is usually attached to a stay (wire) that also supports the mast.

Jib Sheet

Two sheets control the jib, one on the starboard (right) side of the boat, the other on the port side. While sailing, one of these sheets is always working; the other one is slack. The sheet that is working is on the side that the sails are set, the slack sheet is on the other side. When the boat changes tacks and the jib is trimmed on the opposite side, the other sheet becomes the working sheet. Each sheet starts at the aft (back) corner of the sail (the clew of the sail) and runs to a block attached to the rail of the boat at the very edge of the deck. After passing through the block, the working sheet is wrapped around a winch and fastened to a cleat. When a boat comes about the working jib sheet is released and the slack jib sheet is trimmed.

[k]

Keel

The bottom extension of the hull of a sailboat. A keel may reach down to a depth of eight feet or more, depending on the size of the boat. It is usually made of a very heavy material such as lead and it provides lateral stability and prevents the boat from slideslipping when under sail.

Knots

There are two distinct meanings for "knot". The easiest one is the thing we tie in a piece of line (rope) to secure it. "A bowline is a useful knot." The other meaning is more complicated. The other "knot" is a nautical mile per hour - a rate of speed for boats and planes. It is like a mile per hour used on land, except that a nautical mile is a little more than a statute (land) mile. Therefore when we say, "the boat is going 5 knots" we are saying that the boat is going 5 nautical miles per hour, which is a little more than 5 miles per hour.

[l]

Leech

The longest edge of a sail, the trailing (aft) edge. On the mainsail, it is the only edge not attached to either the mast or the boom (or the gaff on a gaff-rigged boat). The leech of the mainsail may have one or two telltales attached to it. They will stream back when the sail is properly set. If you think of the mainsail as a right triangle, the leech is the hypotenuse.

Leeward

This word is pronounced "looward" but it means "toward the lee side or toward the side that is away from the source of the wind." Its opposite is "windward". Sailors are always aware of the windward and leeward side of the boat. The sails are always set on the leeward side and when a boat changes tacks, the leeward and windward sides switch their left/right designations.

Lift

A shift in the wind toward the windward side of the boat which will allow a close hauled boat to "head up" (steer closer to the source of the wind).

Lines

Almost all ropes on a boat are called "lines".

Luff

A fluttering action seen on the sails when the wind is pushing on both sides simultaneously. When the boat is headed directly into the wind, the sails will be fully luffing. When sailboat under way is turned slightly toward the source of the wind (or the sail is released until it is an about a 45 degree angle to the wind) a luff will appear at the foremost edge of the sail, while the rest of the sail remains full. The luff looks like a dent in the normally concave surface. The edge of the sail where the luff will first appear is also called the "luff" of the sail.

[m]

Mainsail

The tallest sail on the boat, raised on the mast and fixed to the boom. The other sail on a sloop-rigged boat (a boat with one mast and two sails) is the jib, which is forward of the mainsail.

Main Sheet

The lines (ropes) on a sailboat that control the set (shape) of the sails are called sheets. The mainsail is controlled by the mainsheet, one long line that attaches to the boom and leads to the centerline of the boat just forward of the wheel. The mainsheet runs through blocks (pulleys) on the boom and on the hull to make it easier to control. There is a cleat adjacent to these blocks for securing the mainsheet

Mast

The major vertical spar on a sailboat. A sloop has one mast, a schooner, ketch and yawl all have two masts.

Momentum

The motion in a given direction, that is entirely the result of the mass of the object moving in that direction and not to some other force being applied to it. This momentum could also be called "inertia". When we steer a sailboat into the wind, its momentum carries it a certain direction in that direction, but it cannot sail in that direction due to the force of the wind on its sails.

Mooring

A very heavy anchor, permanently left on the bottom of a harbor and attached by chain and line to a buoy (or two) floating on the water's surface. A boat can tie up to such a buoy and be safe from harm.

[n]

Nautical

Referring to the sea or maritime matters. A "nautical" mile is a measurement of distance on the sea (or in aviation) which is not the same as a "statute mile", the measure of distance on land.

[o]

Off the wind

A boat is sailing "off the wind" when it is not "close hauled" which means sailing at as close an angle as possible to the source of the wind. Anytime a boat is sailing an angle of greater than about 50 or 60 degrees from the direction of the wind it could be said to be sailing "off the wind". The names for points of sail that are off the wind are "reaching" and "running".

Outboard

Outside the hull of the boat, such as an "outboard" motor.

Overheat

Getting too hot for efficient operation. If an engine is not properly cooled it can "overheat", which may cause permanent damage.

[p]

Pointing

This is one of several terms that refer to the ability of a sailboat to go upwind - toward the source of the wind. When the sails are close hauled and the boat is traveling efficiently at an angle of about 45 degrees to the source of the wind, the boat is said to be "pointing." Old sailing ships using square sails were not as good at "pointing" as newer ships using modern rigs.

Port

The word used for the left side of boats and airplanes. The color is associated with red. You will see a red light on the left wing tip of an airplane flying at night and on the left side of a boat.

Propeller shaft

A steel rod which connects the propeller, which is outside the boat, to the inboard engine.

[q]





[r]

Reaching

Sailing a course, or point of sail that is not close hauled and not running. A "beam reach" is 90 degrees to the wind direction. A "close reach" is between a beam reach and sailing close-hauled (45 degrees to the wind). A "broad reach" is between a beam reach and a run (180 degrees to the wind). Sailing at any of these angles is reaching.

Rudder

The rudder is a pivoting blade that steers the boat by the force of the water flowing over the flat vertical surface, capable of inducing drag on one side of the hull or the other.

Running

Sailing at an angle of 180 degrees to the wind or "downwind". When running the sails are eased, the jib may be winged opposite the mainsail, and the wind is from behind.

[s]

Sailing close hauled

Sailing at an angle of 45 degrees to the direction of the wind - as close as possible to this direction.

Sheets

The lines on a sailboat used to control the set of the sails.

Spinnaker

A light, large, balloon-like sail which may be used when sailing off the wind.

Stalled

The condition of having a "full" sail with no air flow over the convex surface. This is seen when the leeward telltale stops streaming. The significance is that the sail is not working efficiently and the sail's angle to the wind must change to get it working again. This is accomplished on a close hauled course by steering the boat toward the source of the wind. When sailing off the wind, it is accomplished by easing the sheet to let the sail out.

Starboard

The word used for the right side of boats and airplanes. The color is associated with starboard is green. You will see a green light on the right wing tip of an airplane flying at night and on the right side of a boat.

[t]

Tack

Referring to which (of two) positions the sailboat boat may take with respect to the direction of the wind. If the windward side is starboard, the boat is said to be on the starboard tack. If the windward side is port, it is on the port tack. Tack, when used as a verb, refers to changing tacks by coming about (pointing the boat into the wind). It can also refer to the whole process of moving the boat up wind as in "We had to tack up the river because the wind was against us." It also means the corner of the sail where the luff (forward edge) meets the foot (bottom edge).

Telltales

Strips of yarn, ribbon, or even audiotape attached to the sails or rigging of a sailboat in order to reveal the flow of wind at the point where they are attached. Telltales will show that the sail is set properly for conditions and/or that the boat is in the groove on a close hauled course.

Throttle

The control on an engine that increases or decreases its speed.

Tiller

A handle, usually made from a long stick, that attaches to the top of the rudder and is used to steer a boat.

Transom

The part of the hull at the very stern of a boat. Outboard motors are usually mounted on the transom of a boat. That is also where you will usually find the boat's name.

Trim

To adjust a sail by pulling it closer to the boat. Opposite of "ease".

[u]

Under power

Moving a boat with a motor rather than by oars or a sail.
"There was no wind so we had to finish the day's voyage under power."

Under way

Moving, as opposed to staying still. "We left the mooring and got under way at 0600 hours."

Upwind

Referring to the direction that is toward the source of the wind. Opposite of "downwind".

[v]

Volatile

Very easy to catch fire or explode.

[w]

Winch

A machine used to trim the sails. It consists of a drum around which a line is wrapped and an internal ratchet, which allows the drum to turn in one direction. The winch works as a wheel-and-axle type of machine and it is often equipped with a handle to increase the mechanical advantage even further.

Wing, winged

When sailing downwind it is possible to fly the jib on the opposite side of the boat from the mainsail. Such a jib is said to be "winged". And such sailing is called "wing on wing."

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[z]