Glossary of Sailing Terms - The Terminology of Sailing and Maritime Explained. Sailing Glossary - The Basic Sailing Terms. Sailing is adventurous and fun. You should remain aware of simple sailing terms to maneuver your sailboat perfectly.
Glossary of Sailing Terms – The Terminology of Sailing and Maritime Explained
New York (USA), September 02, 2017
Sailing is adventurous and fun. You should remain aware of simple sailing terms to maneuver your sailboat perfectly.
Basic Sailing Terms
Aft: Back side of a ship or boat. It is the same as stern.
Anchor: A heavy device to secure boat on the seabed.
Apparent Wind: The wind you experience when your sailboat is moving.
Boom: Horizontal pole extending from bottom of the mast. Boom adjustments accommodate wind directions and generate sufficient power for a forward or backward movement of the sailboat.
Bow: Front portion of the ship or boat.
Capsize: When boat overturns in water or remains tilted at right angles.
Clove Hitch: This is used to secure sailboat to a post.
Deck: The main area of a boat controlling all operations of boat.
Danbuoy: A floating marker with a code flag O at the top. This means someone has fallen overboard.
Galley: Kitchen area of a sailing boat.
Halyard: Rope or line that pulls up the sail.
Heeling: Specific condition when sailboat leans on one side due to wind pressure.
Helmsman: Person steering the sailboat.
Hull: Body or frame of ship. It does not include engines, masts, or similar structures.
Jibing: This refers to turning stern of boat through the wind. Wind shifts from one side to boat to another.
Keel: It runs lengthwise along centerline from bow to stern. Ship frames are attached to keel.
Lee-Cloth: A piece of cloth attached to the berth. This prevents you from falling off the berth during rough weather or when boat heels.
Leeward: Direction opposite to direction of wind, same as lee.
Leeway: Sideways drift of boat caused by wind.
Luff: Sailing closer into the wind.
Mainsail: A triangular or quadrilateral sail that is set on after part of mainmast on a fore-and-aft rigged vessel.
Mast: A tall and vertical spar rising from deck or keel of a sailboat. It supports standing and running rigging and all sails.
Mayday: Internationally acknowledged Distress Signal via radio.
Offshore Wind: Wind blowing from land and towards the water.
Onshore Wind: Wind blowing from water and towards the land.
Piloting: Navigating sailboat with the help of visual references on sea and land for safe passage making to a destination. This is same as Pilotage.
Port: It always refers to the left-hand side of the boat when facing the bow. Left and right sides become very confusing in the middle of vast expanse of water.
Reefing: Reducing sail area to suit prevalent wind conditions.
Rudder: Movable vertical board or flap at the center back edge of the boat. This flat piece of wood, metal, or fiberglass remains underneath the boat. It steers the boat in the desired direction. Larger sailboats use a wheel to control rudder movements while smaller sailboats use a tiller.
Running Rigging: A collective term signifying all lines that lower, raise, and control sails.
Sailboat: Small boat propelled fully or partially by sail.
Sail Trimming: Adjusting sails regularly to harness sufficient driving force from wind.
Sheet Bend: This is used for tying two lines of same or different sizes.
Standing Rigging: A system of wires that hold up masts.
Starboard: Right-hand side of sailboat when facing forward or bow of ship.
Tacking: Changing direction of boat to bring bow into the wind. This requires tactful handling and maneuvering.
Tiller: Bar used for controlling rudder movements during steering.
True Wind: The wind you feel when sailboat is not moving.
VHF Radio: Two-way radio providing clear communication through line-of-sight.
Winch: A device used for winding up a sailing line or rope.
Windward: The direction in which wind is currently blowing. Sailboats normally move in the direction of wind.
Guide to Sailing and Ocean Cruising in a Medium Sized Yacht
The Complete Reference Guide to Sailing and Ocean Cruising in a Medium Sized Yacht