abeam – directly to the side of the boat
about – on the opposite tack
aft - at or near the stern
aloft - above the deck
apparent wind – the direction and speed of the wind felt when sailing, its a combination of the true wind and wind created by the motion of the boat
astern - behind the boat
backstay – rigging wire or rope supporting the mast from the stern
backwind – Bubble of low pressure that allow luff of sail to remain loose even though full pressure and power is maintained on back third of sail
batten – thin strips of wood, fibreglass of carbon fibre fitted into pockets to keep leech of sail stiff
beam – measurement of the width of a boat, taken at its widest part
beam reach – sailing with the apparent wind coming across the boat’s beam
beam wind – apparent wind at right angles to a boat’s course
bear away – to steer the boat away from the wind direction
beat - sailing against the wind by tacking, sailing a zigzag course as close as possible towards the wind
beating to windward – to sail to wind ward close hauled, tacking, to reach an objective to windward
block – mechanical component that allow change of direction of any line onboard
boom – spar that takes the foot of a sail, can be carbon, metal or wooden
bow – the sharp end of a boat
broach – to lay the yacht on its side, through overpower or from wave action
broad reach – the point of sailing between a beam reach and a run when the wind blows over the quarter of yacht
capsize – to overturn
catamaran – two hulled vessel
center of effort (coe) – the point at which all the forces acting on the vessels sails are concentrated
center of lateral resistance (CLR) – the underwater center of pressure about which a boat pivots
centerboard – retractable keel to stop a vessels leeward drift.
chain plate – metal fitting bolted to the side of a boat to hold the ends of stays and shrouds.
cleat – fixed fitting to which a line is secured
clew – aft bottom corner of a sail where the foot and leech meet
close hauled – sailing close to the wind with sails sheeted or pull hard in
close reach – the point of sailing between close-hauled and a beam reach when the wind blows just forward of the yachts beam
come about – to change course so as to be sailing at the same angle but with the wind on the other side
course – the direction in which a vessel is steered, usually given in degrees.
cutter – single-masted fore and aft vessel having an inner staysail and outer jib
daggerboard – centerboard that does not pivot
dinghy – a small boat used to ferry people to a yacht; also used for sailing or rowing; also called a tender
downhaul – rope used to set up downward tension or haul down a sail or spar
falling off - turn away from the direction of the wind.
foot - the sail’s lower edge
fore - at or toward the boat’s bow
forestay – the foremost stay, running from the masthead to the bow
furl – tightly roll up a sail around a rigid stay, such as forestey
galley – the kitchen area on a boat
genoa – large headsail, which overlaps the mainsail
halyard – line used for hoisting sails
head – a sail’s top corner and also a boat’s toilet!
headsail – sail forward of the forward most mast
headway – moving forward
heel - a boat’s angle to horizontal
helm – tiller or wheel controlled, used for direction control
hull – the body of a boat
in irons – to head into the wind, and to get stuck in the no go wind area, with boat refusing to fall off