There are three basic kinds of sailing races. They are regattas that are raced over a course that has been laid out in advance to see which boat can complete the course in the best time, ocean races and then races where the boats race directly against each other. In the Olympics it is the regatta race over a course that is used.
360: This is the penalty for hitting a buoy. The boat must do one complete circle, which is called a 360-degree penalty turn.
49er: A high-performance dinghy class that is characterized by its low hull and small wings. These are used in open competition in the Olympic Gameís.
470: A dinghy class that used in both male and female competitions in the Olympic Gameís.
720: When a boat breaks certain rules they are penalized and must do two complete circles, this is called a 720-degree penalty.
Aback: When the winding is blowing on the wrong side of the sail.
Abaft: Toward the back of the boat
Abandon: During a race the Race Committee can decide to stop a race for various reasons. The race may be sailed again at a later date.
Abeam: This means to be at right angles to the boat's centerline. This is a complicated way of saying off to the side of the boat.
Abreast: Off to the side of the boat.
Admiralty Law: This is a term for maritime law. The name comes from the British Admiralty department
Adrift: A boat that is floating on the current. It is not anchored down.
Aft: Towards the back or stern of the boat.
Agonic Line: This is an imaginary line that goes around the earth on which magnetic north and true north are the same.
Aground: When a boat has become stuck on the bottom of the sea.
Aids to Navigation: Aids to Navigation help boats and ships avoid dangerous areas and to also fix their positions. Aids include - buoys, beacons, lights, and radio beacons among others.
Alee: The opposite direction of the wind.
Aladdin Cleat: This is a cleat that is on the backstay over the cockpit, and is used to hang lanterns.
American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC): This is an organization that develops voluntary safety standards for the construction, design, equipment, maintenance, and the repair of small craft.
America's Cup: This is an international sailing competition that is held every four years.
Amidships: The center part of a boat or ship.
Anchor: A piece of heavy metal that is meant, when thrown overboard, to help hold the boat in place.
Anchor Bend: This is a type of knot that is usually used to tie the anchor line to the anchor.
Anchor Chain: A chain that is attached to the anchor and that acts to keep the anchor lying on the seabed so that it will stay in one place and dig into the seabed in if the boat tries to move.
Anchor Light: When a boat is at anchor it should have a light, usually a white light, on the masthead that can be seen from all directions.
Anchorage: A place to anchor a boat.
Anemometer: This is a device that measures wind speed / velocity.
Anti-fouling: A type of paint that is used on the bottom of a boat to keep barnacles and other marine life from attaching to the keel and underside of the boat.
Apparent Wind: This is the wind that is felt by the boat. Which means a combination of the wind that is blowing and the wind that is produced by the speed of the boat.
Astern: The area in back of the boat.
Athwart: Right angles to the centerline.
Auto-pilot: This is an automatic steering device which keeps the boat heading in a preset direction.
Back: This means to slow a boat down by trimming the sails to windward.
Backing: When the wind changes direction in a counter clockwise movement.
Backsplice: A way to weave the end of a rope to prevent it from unraveling.
Backstay: This is rigging that supports the mast and it goes aft to the deck or to another mast.
Backwinded: When the wind is blowing hard against the wrong side of the sail. If the situation is not corrected by taking the pressure off the sails, the boat could begin to heel excessively.
Balanced Lug: This is a type of rigging where the boom and the gaff are placed on the leeward side of the mast.
Ballast: Extra weight usually placed in the keel, to provide the boat with extra stability.
Bar: This is a place where sand as been deposited and made the water shallow.
Barometer: This is a device that measures and then displays atmospheric pressure.
Batten: A short strip of wood or plastic that is put in a sail to help keep it taut.
Batten Down: This is to close all open hatches and make sure all loose objects are stored away because the sea conditions are getting rough and you don't want things flying around and getting broken.
Beam: The widest place on the boat, usually the middle of the boat.
Beam Reach: To set the sail at a right angle to the boat.
Bear Away / Bear Off: To change course that takes the boat away from the wind.
Bear Down On: Sailing toward a place or thing.
Bearing: The direction the boat is moving.
Beat: To sail on a windward direction, using tacking maneuvers when sailing on the upwind portion of a race. This is a method or way to sail into the wind.
Belay: Tying a rope around a cleat in a figure eight pattern.
Beaufort Wind Scale: Developed by an Admiral Beaufort this is a way of measuring wind velocity and the severity of wind. The system goes from 0-12, 0 is no wind, and 12 would be a hurricane force winds or 73-136 miles an hour.
Becket: This is a loop made at the end of a rope. It is a rope handle.
Belaying Pin: This is a vertical pin to which halyards can be attached or tied. Belaying pins can be moved.
Bermudan: A common type of rigging. It is characterized by a high triangle mainsail with the front edge of the sail (luff) parallel to the mast and the bottom of the sail attached to the main boom.
Berth: A place to sleep on a boat. Also a margin of safety as in "Give them a wide Berth".
Bilge: This is the lowest part of a boats inner hull. Also the curved part of a boats hull.
Bilge Keel: This is a fine that is placed on the bilges to give the boat additional stability.
Bilge Pump: This can be a mechanical, electrical, or manually operated pump. It is used to take water out of the bilge.
Binnacle: A compass stand.
Block: A wooden or metal case that has wheels where ropes are then run through.
Block and Tackle: This is an arrangement of blocks that help to give leverage as when, a san example, lifting a heavy object.
Blue Peter: This is a flag that is hoisted 5 minutes before a start of a race.
Blue Water Sailing: Sailing in the open ocean.
Boat Hook: This is pole that has a hook on it to be able to pick things up. It can also be used for fending off.
Bollard: This is a heavy and strong vertical fitting that is put on a pier or deck of a boat where mooring lines can be attached.
Bone in her Teeth: Hard sailing, so that spray is getting thrown from the front (bow) of the boat all the way to the back (stern).
Boom: A horizontal pole that attaches to the mast and to which the bottom of the sail is attached.
Bosun: A member of the crew who is in charge of keeping the rigging and sails in good repair.
Bosun's Chair: A chair made out of either canvas or a plank of wood and rope that is used to lift a member of the crew up into the rigging so they can fix and maintain the rigging.
Bow: The front of the boat.
Bowline: This is a type of knot that is used to make a loop in a line. Bowlines are used to tie sheets to sails.
Bowsprit: A spar on the front of the boat where an additional foresail can be set.
Breakwater: A structure made of rocks or concrete that protects a harbor by preventing waves from entering.
Bridge: This is a room, on a large boat or ship where the captain works from and controls the ship from. See also Cockpit
Bright Work: The varnished woodwork or polished metal on a boat that makes it look good.
Broach(ing): When a boat is turned so that the beam of the boat is being hit broadside by waves, which creates the chance the boat could be swamped and / or capsized.
Broad on the Beam: At a right angle to the boat.
Broad Reach: This is when the apparent wind is broad on the beam.
Bulkhead: A wall or barrier below the decks that separates one part of the boat from another part.
Bulwarks: This is the rail around the deck
Buoy: A round marker that floats on the water that can act as a channel marker or as a warning to boats to stay away from an area. They often have lights and bells on the so they are easier to see and hear, which is important at night and during bad weather.
Burgee: A flag that indicates what yacht club a particular boat belongs to.
Cabin: A room below deck on a boat.
Canvas: The slang term for a sail. In the good old days sails were made of canvas. Today Modern sails are made out of synthetic materials generally known as sailcloth.
Capsize: When a boat turns over in the water so that it is upside down. To be avoided at all costs.
Captain: This person is in charge and responsible for the boat and all of its occupants.
Cast Off: To remove the mooring lines and push away from the dock.
Catamaran: A boat that has parallel twin hulls.
Caulking: This is a substance that is used to seal the seams in a wooden boat. It is used to make the boat watertight.
Celestial Navigation: To calculate the position of your boat using time, the position of certain stars and mathematical tables.
Center Line: The imaginary line that runs down the middle and length of the boat from the bow to the stern.
Centerboard: This is a movable, fin-shaped board that protrudes from under the hull that keeps the boat from moving sideways.
Certificate: Refers to the boat's registration or the captain's license to operate a boat or ship.
Chainplates: These are metal plates on the deck that lines and stays are attached to.
Channel: A part of a waterway where the depth of the water is known and is navigable by boats and ships. Channels are usually well marked and boats and ships are not usually allowed to anchor in a channel.
Charts: Charts are maps for the water. They include information on channels, navigational aids and water depth and allow ships and boats to avoid dangerous areas they might not otherwise know about.
Chart Table: A table that is used by the navigator or captain where they can look at charts and plot their course.
Chocks: The heavy metal fittings on the deck of a ship that ropes are run through for mooring or towing or any other reason a rope needs to be put through them.
Cleat: Usually a metal T shaped fitting that ropes are secured to.
Cleat Hitch: This is a type of knot, a figure eight knot, that is used to tie a line to a cleat.
Clear the Decks: To stow anything that does not have to be on the deck.
Clew: The lower aft (back) corner of the aft and fore sails.
Close Hauled: The term for when sails and boom are pulled in tight, thus allowing the boat to take full advantage of the wind.
Clove Hitch: A double loop hitch that is used around pilings.
Coastal Navigation: When sailing near the coast navigators can determine their position by using landmarks and other visual references.
Cockpit: A place that is usually open, it might have a cover over it, from where the boat is steered. See Bridge
COLREGS: This is a term used by the United States Coast Guard that refers to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
Come About / To Tack: To change the direction the boat is traveling. See also Tacking
Committee Boat: During sailing races there will be a committee boat that has race official in it and they can oversee the race from this boat.
Companionway: This is a hatch that leads from the deck to a cabin.
Compass: A navigation tool that shows you which direction you are heading i.e. North, South, East or West.
Crew: The people who follow the orders of the captain and who make sure the sailboat or ship is operating the way it should.
Current: In the ocean, this is the movement of the water brought about by tides.
Cutter Rig: This is a boat that has one mast but also has two or sometimes more foresails in addition to its mainsail.
D signal: This means stay clear of me, the boat is having problems maneuvering.
DNC: No, not the Democratic National Committee. This DNC means "Did Not Compete". This is the ruling when a boat fails to compete in a scheduled race. The boat has assessed against it the maximum number of points allowed. Points are bad.
DND: This means "Disqualification Not Discardable", and happens when a boat is disqualified from a race and has assessed against it the maximum number of points for the race, points that canít be discarded from the overall score later.
DNF: This means "Did Not Finish", and is the ruling when a boat does not complete the race. Again, the maximum number of points for the race is assessed.
DNS: This one means "Did Not Start", the ruling when a boat does not start a race and, you guessed it, the maximum number of points for that race is assessed.
DSQ: Meaning "Disqualified", when a boat is disqualified from a race and, wait for it, the maximum number of points for the race are assessed.
Davit: This is a device like a crane that is used to lift things on to the deck. A pair of davits might be used to hold a dingy in place.
Daysailer: A small boat that is only used for sailing along the coast or for racing. Not used in blue water sailing.
Deadhead: A floating log. Dangerous because they are often large and could cause damage to the hull of a boat.
Dead Reckoning: This is a way of trying to determine a boats position by making a guess based on the boats last known position, speed and currents. Not used often in todayís sailing with all of the electronic navigation equipment that can purchased.
Deck: The top of the boat where people stand.
Deck Plate: A metal plate on the deck of a boat that can be opened to allow fuel or water to be put into the boat.
Depth Sounder: A piece of equipment, which uses sound waves to measure how deep of water a boat is in. The sound waves bounce of the bottom of the ocean.
Dinghy: A small boat that can either be rowed or sailed.
Displacement: The amount of water a boat displaces is equal to the weight of the boat, therefore, the amount of water a boat displaces and its weight are the same.
Distress Signals: When a boat is in trouble or distress this is any signal that is used to try and get help from other vessels. Distress signals can include: smoke, flares, noise or sound producing alarms, electronic beacons among others.
Ditty Bag: This is just a small bag that can be used to hold tools or personal gear.
Dock: This is a place where boats can tie up or moor.
Downhaul: This is a rigging line that takes a sail down or to hold down a sail or spar.
Downwind: When the boat is going the same direction the wind is blowing.
Draft: The water depth that is needed to float this particular boat. The amount of water a boat displaces.
Drift: How fast the current is moving.
Draw: A description of when the sails are filled with wind.
Drop Keel: See Centerboard.
Dry Dock: When a boat needs repair it is but into dry dock. The boat is taken out of the water where it can be worked on.
Dry Rot: This is a term that is commonly used to describe the decay of wood. It is a misleading term because dry rot is caused by moister in fresh water.
Ease Sheets: To let out the sheets.
Ebb: When the tide is changing going from high tide to low tide.
Eddy: When water or air currents move in a circular motion.
Estimated Position (EP): This is a navigational point that is an estimate of where a point would be located based on the direction of the boat, speed, tide and wind conditions.
Europe Dinghy: This is a single-handed centerboard dinghy and it is the smallest Olympic-class boat and is used in female-only events.
Eye of the Wind: The direction the wind is blowing from.
Fall Off: To move away from the direction the wind is blowing.
Fastening: Refers to the method used for holding planks in a wooden boat to the frame.
Fathom: A measurement of depth. One fathom is equal to 6 feet.
Fend Off: This means to push a boat away from, in order to avoid hitting, another boat or dock.
Fender: A pad that is put over the side of the boat to keep it from rubbing or banging against a dock or another boat.
Fid: This is a tool that has a tapered pointed end that is primarily used in splicing rope.
Finn: This is a single-handed centerboard dinghy and is used in male-only events in the Olympic Gameís.
Fix: To determine a boatís position.
Flake: To coil a rope so that it can be unwrapped quickly and easily.
Flare Gun: A gun that is used to fire flares and is used in emergency situations when a boat needs assistance.
Fleet Racing: A style of race where all the competitors sail against each other at once, the predominant form of sailing at the Olympic Games.
Flood: When the tidal current is moving in.
Flotsam: Trash and floating debris.
Fluke: The part of an anchor that digs into the ocean floor.
Flying Bridge: A bridge that is very high so the captain has a clear view from which to steer the boat from.
Foot: The bottom edge of a sail.
Force 8: On the Beaufort Wind Scale this is a gale force wind.
Foredeck: The forward section of the main deck
Forepeak: A compartment, which is usually used as a storage area, that is in the very front of the boat.
Foresail: This is the name given to any sail that is in front of the mainsail.
Forestay: This is the rigging that runs from the front of the mast to the bow and that secures the mast forward.
Founder: A term for a boat sinking.
Frames: The ribs that make up the structure of a boat.
Freeboard: A measurement that is the minimum vertical distance from the waters surface to the gunwale.
Furling: The term used to describe how a sail is rolled up when it is not being used.
GMT: Greenwich Meridian Time.
GPS: Global Positioning System, it is used to fix a boats or ships position and it uses satellites in fixed orbits to accomplish this.
Gaff: This is a spar that is put on the top edge of a four-cornered sail.
Gaff Rigged: A kind of boat that has four sided gaff sails, which are hoisted up on gaffs.
Gaff Sail: This is a four-sided sail as opposed to a triangular main sail.
Gale Force Winds: A storm that has wind speeds between 34 to 40 knots.
Galley: What a kitchen is called on a boat.
Genoa: This is a large triangular forward sail that stretches back behind (aft) of the mainsail.
Gimbals: This is a device that has pivoted rings that holds a compass or other important device, (like the captains coffee cup) so that the said device always stays level even when the boat is not.
Give-way Vessel: The term used to describe the vessel that must yield in certain situations.
Gooseneck: This is a fitting that joins the boom to the mast.
Grab Rail: See Handrail
Great Circle: A course that is plotted on the surface of the globe that shows the shortest distance between two points.
Green Water: This means that a large amount of water has come on to the deck and not just spray.
Grommet: This is an eyelet in a sail that a rope can go through.
Gunwales: The railing on a boat's sides.
Half Hitch: A simple type of knot.
Guy: This is a rigging line that is used for control. It will be attached to a spar and will hold a boom in place.
Half-hitch: A type of knot, a really the simplest knot to tie.
Halyard: the cordage used to haul the head of a sail up the mast
Handrail: A place to grab on to, they are usually placed along the top of a cabin or along the side of a ladder.
Hanks: These are metal hooks, which are used to fasten a sail to a stay.
Harbor: A place boats can enter and tie up in where they are protected from storms.
Harbormaster: The person who is in charge of overseeing the operations of a harbor.
Hard Over: Turning the wheel as far as it will go.
Harden Up: Steering close into the wind.
Hatch: This is an opening on the deck that has a removable cover.
Haul: To pull on a line.
Haul Around: This means going from a run (sailing downwind) to a reach (not downwind)
Hawsehole: This is an opening the hull of the ship that mooring lines are run through.
Hawsepipes: These are fittings in the Hawsehole that anchor or dock lines can be run through.
Head: What a bathroom is called on a boat:
Heading: The direction in which the boat is going.
Headsail: This is the sail that is in front of the mast.
Headstay: This is the foremost stay and it runs from the bow to a high point on the mast.
Headway: The forward motion of a boat.
Heaving Line: This is a small line that can be tied to a larger line, which then be hauled from boat to dock or vise-versa.
Heave To: To stop the boat from moving forward by bringing the bow into the wind and keeping it there.
Heavy Weather: Storm conditions, which will most likely include high seas and high winds. This is also an album title by the band Weather Report. We are dating ourselves.
Heel: When a boat leans to one side. This could be caused by the wind or as a result of an uneven distribution of weight.
Helm: The tiller or wheel that controls the rudder.
Helm's Alee: A forewarning by the helmsman that the boat is going to tack. Also the name of a girl one of the guyís here at Fuzilogik Sports used to date.
Helmsperson: The person who is steering the boat.
High Tide: When the tide brings the water to its highest level. See also low tide.
Hitch: This is a knot that attaches a rope to an object.
Hoist: To raise a sail.
Holding Tank: This is a storage tank that holds sewage.
Hull: The main body of a vessel.
Hull Speed: The maximum speed of a sailboat.
Hurricane: See Typhoon
Hydrofoil: A type of boat that has two raised hulls it uses to plane across the surface of the water at very high speed.
In Irons: When a boat is headed into the wind and canít be steered. Basically the boat can't tack.
Inflatable: A dinghy that can be inflated when it is needed but can also be deflated for easy stowage. Most inflatable life rafts have a mechanism that will inflate them in a manner of seconds.
Inlet: A bay or cove that is along the coast of an ocean, sea, river or lake.
Inter-coastal Waterway: This is a system of rivers and canals that are located along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the United States.
Jack Line: This is a line that is used for safety purposes. The line runs from the cockpit forward to the bow, inside the rail. Crewmembers clip on to the Jack Line with the lanyard of their safety harnesses to minimize their risk of being lost overboard in high seas.
Jetsam: See Flotsam
Jetty: See Breakwater.
Jib: A small triangular forward most sail that is attached to the headstay.
Jibe: To move the mainsail from one side of the boat to the other when sailing with a tail wind.
Jury Rig: A temporary rig when the regular rig is broken.
Kedge: To move the boat by pulling on the anchor rope.
Keel: The centerline of a boat basically the backbone of a boat. See also Centerboard.
Keelboat: This is a boat that has a fixed keel.
Ketch: A sailboat that has two masts.
Kicking Strap: This is a wire or rope that runs from the bottom of the mast to the boom to keep the boom from being raised when the tension on the sheets is reduced.
Kite: See Spinnaker.
Knocked Down: A boat that has, usually by a big wave, been rolled on its side. A boat will usually right its self if it has the correct amount of ballast.
Knot: A nautical mile that is 1.1 mile.
Landfall: When you can see land from the boat.
Landlocked: To be completely surrounded by land.
Lanyard: A short rope that is attached to a part of the boat and to some other item, with the purpose of keeping that other item from being washed overboard.
Latitude: A measurement of distance measured in degrees, north or south from the equator that is measured at 0.
Lazarette: This is a small storage in the stern of the boat.
Laser: A centerboard dingy class used in open competition in the Olympic Games.
Lash: To tie something with a line to keep it from being washed overboard.
Launch: This is the name of a small boat that moves people from a larger ship or boat to land or to another boat. This also means to take a boat that is on land and put it in the water.
Lay Line: This is an imaginary line that a sailboat will try and stay on to sail straight to its destination.
Lazy Jacks: These are lines that go from above the mainsail to the boom to help in lowering a sail.
Lead: This is a weight on a marked line that is used to measure the depth of the water.
Lee: The side away from or sheltered from the wind. The leeward side of an island would mean that this side of the island is sheltered from the wind.
Leeward: Downwind
Leeway: When a boat is moved sideways, this being caused by either wind or current.
Leech: The aft (back) edge of a sail.
Lee Shore: The lee shore is the shore that the wind blows into. During a storm the lee shore gets pounded hard.
Leg: The stretch of a racecourse bound by two markers or buoys.
Lifeboat: A small boat or raft that is used during emergencies.
Life Jacket: This is also called a life preserver and it helps a person stay afloat when they are in the water.
Life Raft: See Lifeboat.
Lifeline: A line on the deck of a boat that crew members can attach themselves to, in order to keep them from falling overboard
Lighthouse: Usually, but not always, a large building, on land that is used as a navigational tool by boats. A navigational light is placed on top of the lighthouse and it flashes at a constant rate.
List: When a boat leans to one side because of excess weight on one side.
Length Over All LOA: This refers to the maximum length of a boat or ships haul. This length does not include protruding objects such as a rudder, only refers to the hull.
Locker: Just like on land a place to put stuff.
Logbook: This is a book where information about the journey the boat is taking is recorded. Entries will contain information such as the date and time of the entry, boat speed and course, weather conditions and any other information that is judged to be important.
Longitude: The distance in degrees east or west of Greenwich, England, where the meridian is 0.
LORAN: An electronic instrument, which used radio waves from multiple stations that allowed a boat to figure out a boats position. Most LORAN systems have been replaced by the GPS system.
Low Tide: When the tide brings the water to its lowest level. See also high tide.
Lubber's Line: This is a mark, usually inside the compass, where the course can be read and it makes it easy to keep the vessel on course.
Luff: The front or leading edge of a sail.
Luffing: Moving the boats course into the wind.
Lugrig: This is a rig that is used to set a lugsail.
Lugsail: This is a four-sided sail that extends forward past the mast.
Magnetic North: The direction a compass points. Magnetic North is not the same as true North because the earthís magnetic fields are not in line exactly with the North and South poles.
Main Topsail: This is the topsail that is on the main mast.
Mainsail: The sail that is attached to and is hoisted up the main mast.
Mainsheet: This is the rope or line that is used to control the mainsail. The large sail behind the mast
Make Fast: To tie a rope or line to something so that what ever the line is attached to will not move.
Marina: A place where boats can find fuel, water and other services. Marinas also contain slips where boats can stay for a period of time.
Mark: A buoy that marks of a racecourse. .
Mast: This is the tall vertical spar that the sails are attached to.
Masthead: The top of a mast.
Mate: One of the crew members who is an aide to the captain.
Mayday: A distress signal, which is a signal that there is a life-threatening situation.
Match Racing: One-on-One racing between just two boats.
Miss Stays: When a helmsman fails to get on a new tack and is forced to return to the old one.
Mistral: This is the brand name of a one-person sailboard and it is used by male and female events in the Olympic Games.
Midships: The middle section of a boat.
Mizzen Mast: A small mast that is aft on a ketch or yawl rigged boat.
Mizzen Sail: The sail that goes on the Mizzen mast.
Mooring: A place where a boat is able to tie up. It is usually a permanent anchor.
Mooring Buoy: A buoy that marks the location of a mooring.
Mooring Line: A rope or line that secures a boat to a mooring, anchor or dock.
Motor-sailing: Using the motor when sailing.
Multihall: A boat that has more than one hull, such as a catamaran or trimaran.
Nautical Mile: A measurement of distance that is approximately 6076 feet, which is about 1/8th longer than a statute mile of 5280 feet.
Navigation Lights: Lights on a boat that help other boats establish its position and course. Boats are required to have a red light in their port bow, a green light on their starboard bow and a white light on the stern.
Navigational Aid: Any stationary object that assists a navigator in finding his position. These would include: buoys, radio beacons, and lighthouses.
Navigator: The crew member who has the responsibility for navigating the boat.
Neaps: These are tides that have a very small range of rise and fall.
Oar: A piece of wood, usually, that has a wide flat part, a blade at the end. Oars are used to row rowboats.
Oarlock: An Oarlock is a device that an oar can be placed in, that provides the person rowing the rowboat the ability to use both oars at the same time, with relative ease. This would be different than paddling a boat where the person can only use one paddle at a time.
OCS: This stands for "On Course Side", and is ruling that a boat started a race to soon. The boat is disqualified and, altogether, the boat is assessed the maximum number of points.
Off the Wind: When a boat is not using its sails to there maximum efficiency.
Offshore: Simply means away from the land and toward the water.
On The Beam: Off the side of the boat at a right angle.
On The Bow: Straight ahead in front of the boat.
Open: A race where men and women can race against each other.
Out Of Trim: When the sails are not set properly. The sails could be luffing or they might not have the correct shape, when this happens the boat will be going slower then it could.
Overall Length: See LOA
Overboard: An object or person that was once on the boat and is now in the water.
Overlap: When the bow of one boat gets ahead of the stern of another boat.
Pay Off: When a boat turns to get wind in its sails.
Pay Out: This means to release a rope or line in a controlled, usually relatively slow, manner.
Peak: This refers to the top aft corner of a four sided sail.
Pier: A structure that goes from shore out into the water where boats or ships can tie up. They can be made of either wood or concrete, but concrete is usually used since it will last longer and be easier to maintain.
Piling: A large piece of wood or a concrete that is round in shape and is implanted in the sea bottom that is used mostly to support piers and docks.
Pilot: A person who has detailed knowledge of a canal, river or harbor, and therefore is qualified to guide vessels through the area. Some areas require a licensed pilot to be on pilot boats and/or ships to pilot them through these specific areas.
Planing: A boat is planing when it is skimming over the top of the water rather than going through the water.
Planing Hull: A type of hull that is made to skim or move across the water at a high rate of speed.
Port: The left side of a boat when facing forward.
Port Tack: To sail with the wind hitting the sails from the Port (left) side.
Pre-start Maneuvers: Boats will maneuvers before the race in order to be in a good starting position when the race starts. This can be a critical part of the race and a bad start can easily keep a boat from having any chance to win a race.
Prevailing Winds: The distinctive winds that blow in a particular region during a particular time of year.
Preventer: This is a line that goes forward from the boom to a fitting to stop an accidental jibing by the boom when the boat is under sail.
Propeller: An piece of metal that has two or more blades that is connected to a drive shaft, that is turned rapidly by the boat's engine in order to move the boat through the water.
Pulpit: This is the railing in the bow of the boat.
Quarter: This is the side of a boat that is aft of the beam. There are two quarters, a port quarter and a starboard quarter.
Quartering Sea: A sea that comes over from the quarter of the boat, either side.
Quarters: The sleeping areas on a boat.
Quay: This is a structure that is built so boats or ships can load and unload cargo, or tie up. A quay is built where the land meets the water.
RDG: This stands for "Redress", and happens when the jury changes a boat's score for a race as a result of a protest having been filed and heard.
Race Committee: The officials who are responsible for setting up the course and who make sure all the boats in the race follow the rules of the race.
Radio Beacon: This is a navigational aid, which puts out radio waves and the direction of the radio beacon can be ascertained by using a radio direction finder.
Rafting This is when two boats tie up side-by-side, either when the boats are at anchor or this can also be at a dock.
Rail: The edge around the deck of a boat.
Rake: The angle of a boat's mast.
Reaching: When the wind is coming from the side of the boat. If the wind is coming directly from the side, then this is called a beam reach. If the boat is headed with its bow directly into the wind, then it is called a close reach. If the wind is coming over the quarter, then it is called a broad reach.
Reef: A line of rock and / or coral that is near the surface of the water.
Reefing: This is when a boat will take down sails and it happens because of an increase in wind speed.
Reefing Lines: Lines used to reef in the sail.
Regatta: This is a race, which can either be for sailing, rowing or speedboats.
Rig: The way the sails, masts and booms are arranged on a boat. Boats are classified by the type of rig they have when they enter into a race.
Rigging: This refers to the ropes that are used to hoist sails.
Right-of-Way: This refers to the boat that has the right to proceed and another boat on the same tack must change direction so the other boat can continue on its tack. There are different rules for which boat has the right-of-way.
Rowboat: A small boat that is rowed by using oars.
Rudder: Usually a metal plate or a piece of wood that is used to steer a boat.
Running: When a boat is sailing downwind.
Running Backstay: These are adjustable stays, which control tension on the mast.
Running Bowline: This is a knot that will tighten up as it is put under additional load.
Running Lights: See Navigational Lights.
Running Rigging: This refers to the sheets and the halyards (ropes).
Safety Harness: This is similar to a life jacket; it is a vest that is worn around a person's upper body that can be attached to jack lines to keep a person from falling overboard.
Sail Trim: This is the position of the sails in relation to the wind and the desired direction. See Out of Trim
Sail: The large piece of material that a sailboat uses to catch the wind and move the boat through the water.
Sailcloth: See Canvas
Sailboard: Looks like a surfboard that has a sail on it. The person on the sailboard stands on the board and holds onto the mast and sail in order to maneuver the board. Now commonly referred to as windsurf ring.
Schooner: This is a sailboat that has two or more masts. The aft (back) mast is either the same size or larger than the forward mast.
Scow: A boat that has a flat bottom and square ends. They are used mostly to transport bulk items such as sand, gravel, refuse.
Screw: A propeller.
Scull: A way of moving a boat by using only a single oar at the stern.
Scupper: An opening on a boat that allows water to drain out of the boat and back into the ocean.
Scuttle: To deliberately sink a boat.
Sea Anchor: This is an anchor used in storm conditions to help keep the boats bow into the wind and to also help so down the wind drift of the boat.
Sea Cock: This is a hull value that is used to shut off plumping pipes between the boats interior and the sea. Can be very important.
Seagoing: A ship or boat that is built and designed to cross-oceans.
Seamanship: The skill a person has to sail a boat or to operate a powerboat.
Sextant: Used in celestial navigation to ascertain the vertical position of an object such as the sun, moon or stars and thus help the navigator determine the boats or ships position.
Shackle: This is a U-shaped connector made out of metal that can be attached to other fittings by putting a pin through the arms of the U, thus keeping the two fittings bound to each other.
Sheepshank: A type of knot.
Sheet: This is a rope that is used in controlling sails and rigging.
Shipshape: The ship is in order, the sails and equipment are properly stowed, everything is where it should be and everything is right with the world. The Captain is happy.
Shoal: A sand bar that is near the surface of the water.
Shoreline: Where the land and water meet.
Shove Off: To push a boat away from a dock, land or another boat. Also a line you might hear in a bar when making unwanted advances.
Shrouds: These are the wires that go from the mast to the side of the boat.
Skiff: A small sailing boat.
Slack Water: This is a period of time between flood and ebb tides when there is almost no tides or water movement.
Slip: A place or area in a harbor where a boat can be moored.
Sloop Rig: Refers to a kind of sail setup which is made up of two sails: a mainsail and a jib.
Soling: This is a three-person keelboat that is used in open competitions in the Olympics.
Southern Cross: This is a constellation of stars that form the shape of a cross. It is used to ascertain the direction of the South Pole when in the southern hemisphere. It is also the subject of songs and poems.
Spar: This usually made of aluminum and/or carbon fiber composition, which a sail will be attached to. This could either be a mast, boom or spinnaker pole,
Spinnaker: A large three sided sail that is used to increase boat speed when downwind sailing. It is usually set in front of or used in place of a jib.
Spreader: Small spars extending toward the sides from one or more places along the mast. The shrouds cross the end of the spreaders, enabling the shrouds to better support the mast.
Spritsail: A rectangular for sided sail.
Spring Line: These are lines that are used when the boat is docked and the help prevent the boat from moving fore (forward) and aft (backward) while it is tied up at a dock.
Squall: A short and sudden windstorm, which often has rain with it.
Square Knot: A simple type of knot that can slip.
Square Rigged: A sailboat that has square sails.
Standing Rigging: Refers to the shrouds and stays that give stability to the mast.
Stand-On Vessel: The boat or ship that has the right-of-way when to boats meet or cross or when one boat overtakes another boat.
Stanchion: This is a metal post on the deck that is used to hold lifelines.
Starboard: The right side of a boat when facing forward.
Starboard Tack: To sail with the wind hitting the sails from the Starboard (right) side.
Star: A two-person keelboat that is used in open competitions in the Olympics.
Stay: A strong heavy piece wire that is used to provide support to a mast.
Stateroom: Sleeping quarters for the boat's captain or guests.
Stern: The back of the boat.
Stern Line: A rope that goes from the stern of the boat to a dock when a boat is moored.
Stow: To secure or put away gear or other things that could get lost or damaged when the boat is underway.
Swamp: When a boat fills with water.
Swell: Large waves that do not have a crest.
Tack: This is the forward bottom corner of a sail and it is where the luff and foot are joined.
Tacking or to Tack: To change direction in order to move in a certain direction and also to get the wind in coming into the sails from a different direction. When you see a boat that has been moving in a zigzag manner they are tacking back and forth.
Tender: A small boat that is used to transport gear, supplies, people from a larger boat.
Throat: This is the forward upper corner of a four-sided fore and aft sail. This is where the throat halyard attaches. Really.
Tidal Current: This is current caused by the rise and fall of the tides
Tidal Range: The difference between a high tide and low tide's water levels.
Tidal Stream: The flow of water brought about by tides.
Tides: The rise and fall of the water in the ocean caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun.
Tide Tables: These are charts or tables that show the time of day when the high and low tides will happen and what the water level will be at those times.
Tier: The piece of canvas that ties down the sail to the boom when the sailed is lowered.
Tiller: The handle that controls the rudder and is used steer the boat.
Topsail: On a gaff-rigged sailing boat this is a triangular sail that is set above the gaff.
Topsides: This means to be on the deck as opposed to being below deck.
Tornado: A two-person catamaran that is used in open competitions in the Olympics. These are the fastest boats that are used in the Olympics.
Transom: The back (aft), flat portion of a boat.
Trapeze: This is a harness that can be worn by crew members of a boat in heavy weather, which allows them to go on the hang outside of a boat to make repairs or for other reasons. Sailors who are sailing in skiff or catamaran classes of boats in order to lean over the side of the boat to help keep the boat balanced also wear it.
Trapezoidal: A racecourse that is laid out with four different legs and has separate starting and finish lines.
Trim: Keeping the boat in balance by keeping the fore and aft sails in balance.
True Wind: This is the actual direction and force of the wind as compared to the apparent wind.
Turnbuckle: This is a metal fitting that can be turned to either tighten or loosen the tension on the standing rigging.
Typhoon: A typhoon is a strong tropical storm that has strength of force of 12 or higher in the southern hemisphere. Typhoons and hurricanes are the same only typhoons move in a counterclockwise direction and hurricanes move clockwise direction in the northern hemisphere. See Beaufort Wind Scale
Underway: A boat or ship that is in motion.
Undertow: A strong current that is moving offshore.
Unfurl: To unroll a sail.
Upwind: To the windward.
USCG: United States Coast Guard.
VHF: A type of radio. The most common radio carried on boats is the VHF radio. VHF stands for Very High Frequency.
Visual Bearing: When a bearing is taken by visually observations.
Wake: The waves that a boat generates behind it when it is moving through the water.
Watch: The crew takes shifts, different times of the day, to be on watch.
Waterline: A line that is painted on the hull of a boat that indicates where the boat should float in the water when it is properly trimmed.
Waterway: Usually a river or canal that ships and boats move up and down.
Weather Helm: This is a description of a boat whose bow has a tendency to turn into the wind and there is the need for a little helm to keep the boat on course. This is considered a safety feature.
Weather Side: This is the side of the ship or boat that the wind is blowing against.
Wharf: This is a structure built parallel to the shore so that ships and boats can load and unload goods and passengers.
Whistle Signal: This is a signal that can be used by boats to communicate with one another, signaling a change in direction, to indicate danger, etc.
Windsurfer: See Sailboard.
Windward: The side of the boat that the wind is coming into.
Working Sails: These are the sails that are used in normal wind conditions, as opposed to sails that are used in light winds or in stormy conditions.
Yacht: A description for a medium to large size boat that can be either a sail or powerboat that is used as either a pleasure boat or a racing boat.
Yard: This is a spar that goes out from a mast on which a sail is hung.
Yard Arm: This would be the end of a yard.
Yaw: To go off course because the sails are trimmed wrong or because the helmsman is doing a bad job of steering the boat.
Yawl: A sailboat that has two masts with the shorter mizzenmast is aft of the rudderpost. A ketch is similar, but with the ketch the mizzenmast is ahead of the rudderpost.
Zephyr: A soft and gentle breeze blowing from the West.
