| A |
|
| Aback |
Said
of a sail when, with its clew to winward, is pressed back towards
the mast. It may happen due to a sudden change of wind. |
| Abaft |
Toward
the stern or back of the boat. |
| Abeam |
At
right angles to the center of the boat. |
| Adrift
|
Said
of a free floating object or boat which can not move by its
own power. |
| Aft |
Toward,
near or at the stern of the boat. |
| Aground |
Touching or stuck on the bottom. |
| Ahead |
In front of the vessel, forward; opposite of astern. |
| Ahull |
A
boat lies ahull when it is drifting with no sails set. |
| Alee |
The
side away from the direction of the wind. |
| All
Hands |
The
entire crew. |
| Aloft |
Above deck, usually in the rigging. |
| Amidships |
In or near the middle of a boat. |
| Anchor |
A
heavy metal implement used to secure a vessel by lowering in
the water to the bottom. |
| Anchorage |
The
ground or area suitable for vessels to anchor. |
| Anchor
Light |
See
Riding Light. Displayed at night when a vessel
is at anchor. |
| Anemometer |
An
instrument for measuring wind speed. |
| Apparent
Wind |
The
wind that flows over a moving boat. |
| Aspect
Ratio |
The
ratio between the foot length and the luff length of a sail. |
| Astern
|
At any point behind the boat, backward. |
| Athwart |
At
right angles to the for-and-aft line of a vessel. |
| Autopilot |
Electro-mechanical
steering device. |
| Aweigh |
Describes
an anchor raised from the seabed. |
B |
 |
| Back |
Change in direction of the wind in a counterclockwise direction. See Veer. |
| Backing
A Sail |
To
push a sail out so that the wind fills the opposite side. |
| Backstay |
A
stay, fitted as standing rigging to halt any forward movement
of in the mast. |
| Ballast |
Weight carried low in a boat, usually metal, to improve trim or stability. The Eastland used water for ballast. |
| Bare Poles |
To sail without any sails set. |
| Batten |
Stiffening strip placed in leech of sail. Also, a wooden strip fastened over seam to stop leakage. |
| Batten Down |
To secure and, if necessary, tie down fittings such as hatches, for approaching bad weather. |
| Beacon |
Anything that serves as a signal or indication for guidance or warning. A fixed (non-floating) aid to navigation. |
| Beam |
The extreme width of a ship. A horizontal, athwartship support for the deck. |
| Bear Away |
(or Bear Off) To alter course away from the wind. |
| Bear Down |
To approach something from upwind. |
| Bear Off |
Steer away from the wind, shore, or any object. |
| Bearing |
Horizontal direction of an object from an observer, expressed as an angle from a reference direction (e.g., compass bearing, true bearing, relative bearing). |
| Beating |
To sail upwind, close hauled. |
| Becket |
A loop or a small eye at the end of the rope. |
| Belay |
To secure a line, or make fast without a knot or hitch. |
| Bend |
Secure a sail fast to a spar or stay. Also, knot to secure a line to another line or object such as an anchor. |
| Bight |
The bend or loop in a line or rope. |
| Bilge |
The lowest part or the ship's interior. |
| Bitter End |
The inboard end of a line, chain, or cable. The end made fast to the vessel, as opposed to the 'working end', which may be attached to an anchor, cleat, other vessel, etc. |
| Bitts |
Small posts fixed through the foredeck of a of a vessel. |
| Block |
The nautical term for a pulley. |
| Bobstay |
A stay from the bow of the boat to the end of the bowspirt. |
| Bollard |
Stout post on wharf or pier for securing mooring lines. |
| Bolt Rope |
A reinforcing rope sown into the edge of the sail. |
| Boom |
A spar which is used to extend and control the foot of the fore-and-aft sail. |
| Boom Vang |
A tackle secured to prevent the boom from lifting. |
| Bosun's Chair |
Usually a canvas bucket seat on which a person can sit and be hoisted up the mast. |
| Bow |
The forward end of a vessel. |
| Bowspirt |
A spar which projects from the bow of some boats, and extends the sail plan by allowing the headsails to be secured further forward. |
| Bring About |
To change direction. |
| Broach |
The turning of a boat broadside to the wind or waves, subjecting it to possible capsizing. |
| Bulkhead |
A partition across the boat which strengthens and divides the hull into compartments. |
| Bulwark |
The portion of hull extending above the deck. |
C |
|
| Cable |
A nautical measurement. A cable equals one tenth of a nautical mile. |
| Capsize |
To turn over, upset. |
| Cast Off |
To let go of any lines tying the boat to another object. |
| Centerboard |
A pivoting or sliding plate, of wood or metal let down to extend the keel of a sailing boat to reduce leeway. |
| Center Plates |
Metal fittings on the side of the boat. |
| Centre-Line |
An imaginary line which runs down the middle of the ship from the bow to the stern. |
| Chine |
A line formed by the intersection of the sides and bottom of a flat or V-bottomed boat. |
| Chock |
A fitting to guide a line or cable. Also, a wedge or block to keep an object from moving. |
| Chute |
An opening in the deck near the bow from which the spinnaker is hoisted. Spinnakers are also often referred to as chutes. |
| Class |
General catagory into which boats of the same or similar design are grouped for racing. |
| Claw Ring |
A 'C'-shaped fitting which can be slipped over the boom, for example, when the sail has been roller reefed to allow the boom vang to be reattached. |
| Cleat |
A wooden or metal fastening with two arms around which ropes can be fastened. |
| Clew |
The lower aft corner of a fore and aft sail. |
| Close Hauled |
Sailing as directly into the wind as possible. Also, on-the-wind. |
| Coaming |
A raised section around a hatch or cockpit to keep out water. |
| Cockpit |
The after-well in a sailing boat, where the helmsman puts his feet. |
| Coffee Grinder |
A large and powerful sheet winch. |
| COG |
Coarse Over Ground. |
| Come About |
Significant course change. In sailing, to bring the boat from one tack to another when heading into the wind. |
| Compass |
A magnetic instrument used to measure direction. |
| Compass Error |
Combined effect of variation and deviation. |
| Course |
The direction in which a boat is steered. |
| Cutter |
A single massed fore-and-aft sailing boat having an inner staysail and an outer jib. |
D |
|
| Daggerboard |
A type of centerboard, which is raised and lowered straight up and down. |
| Day Sailor |
An open boat used for day sailing. |
| Deck |
Covering of the interior of a boat. The nautical equivalent of a floor. |
| Deviation |
Disturbing effect of boat's magnetic field upon it's compass. |
| Dewpoint |
Temperature at which moist air becomes saturated. |
| Dinghy |
A small open boat used as tender and lifeboat for a yacht. |
| Displacement |
The weight of the water displaced by a floating boat. |
| Dock |
The area of water in which a boat rests between two landing piers or wharves. |
| Dodger |
Screen of cloth or other material fitted up to keep the crew from the wind and water spray. |
| Dolphin |
A mooring bouy or spar. |
| Double Ender |
Any boat designed with a pointed bow and stern. |
| Downhaul |
Tackle used for pulling down the tack. |
| Draft/Draught |
The amount of vertical distance from a boat's water line to the bottom of it's keel. This is the depth of water required to float a vessel. |
| Draw |
A sail is said to be drawing when full with wind. |
| Drogue |
Object towed over boat's stern to decrease speed and help keep it pointed down wind. |
E |
|
| Ease |
To let out a sheet or line gradually. |
| Ebb |
A falling tide. |
| Ensign |
A nautical version of the national flag of the country flown at the stern. |
F |
|
| Fairlead |
Fitting to route control lines or cables. Any ring, bolt, eye or loop that guides a rope. |
| Fairway |
Main channel down which boats should proceed in restricted waters. |
| Fall |
The part of the tackle which is hauled upon. |
| Fathom |
A measurement used for water depth. One fathom equals six feet in depth. |
| Fender |
A cushion of durable material inserted between the boat and another object or another boat. |
| Fetch |
The distance that the wind has to travel over open water unimpeded by land. |
| Fin Keel |
Single ballasted keel centrally attached to the bottom of the boat. |
| Fix |
To find a boat's positions by celestial or land observation. |
| Flare |
The outward curve of the hull toward the deck. |
| Flotsam |
Any of the contents or equipment of a boat which have been washed overboard. |
| Fluke |
The points of an anchor which dig into the soil of the bottom. |
| Foot |
The lower edge of the sail. |
| Fore |
Towards, near or at the bow. |
| Forepeak |
A space in the bows of a vessel. |
| Foresail |
On a schooner the fore and aft sails set on the fore mast. |
| Forestay |
A stay leading from the mast to the foredeck to steady the mast and to hoist staysails on. |
| Forestaysail |
A triangular sail set forward of the mast on the forestay. |
| Foul |
To entangle or obstruct. |
| Foul Ground |
A place not suitable for anchoring. |
| Freeboard |
The vertical distance from the water surface to the lowest point where unwanted water could come aboard. |
| Furl |
To roll or fold a sail and secure it to it's spar or boom. |
G |
|
| Gaff |
Spar which supports the upper side of a fore-and-aft four-sided sail. Also, long-handled hook to bring fish aboard. |
| Gaff Rig |
Any sailboat with a four-sided mainsail. |
| Gear |
The general name for all nonpermanent nautical equipment, including crew's clothing and personal effects. |
| Genoa Jib |
A headsail that extends from bow to behind the mast. |
| Gimbals |
A system by which an object is suspended so that it remains horizontal as the boat heels. |
| Give-Way Boat |
One that does not have the right-of-way and should avoid the Stand-On Boat. |
| Go About |
To turn the boat head-to-wind so as to go about on the opposite tack. |
| Gooseneck |
The fitting on a mast by which the boom was attached. |
| Grabrail |
A pillar or handhold on a boat. |
| Grid |
The parallel lines on a chart to which direction can be related. |
| Grommet |
A ring of rope or metal fastened in a sail awning. |
| Ground Tackle |
Generic term for anchoring equipment. |
| GRP |
Glass Reinforced Polyester. Commonly called fiberglass, a material used for boat construction. |
| Gudgeon |
A fitting into which the rudder pintle is inserted which allows the rudder to pivot. |
| Gunwale |
The upper edge of the side of the hull. |
H |
|
| Halyard |
A line used to hoist sails or flags. |
| Hanks |
Rings or piston hooks by which sails are attach to stays. |
| Hard-a-Lee |
Command to come about. |
| Harden-Up |
To sail a boat closer to the wind. |
| Hatch |
A closable opening in the deck. |
| Head |
The upper corner of a triangular sail. The foremost part of a vessel. |
| Header |
A wind shift further forward relative to the boats direction or heading. |
| Heading |
Direction in which a boat is pointing at a given moment. |
| Headsail |
A sail set forward of the main mast on the headstay. |
| Head Sea |
A sea which is traveling in the opposite direction to that of the boat. |
| Headstay |
The stay leading from the mast to the bow. |
| Head-to-Wind |
With the bow against the wind. |
| Heave |
To throw, as to heave a line ashore. The rise and fall of a vessel in a seaway. |
| Heave To |
To bring a vessel to a position where she will maintain little or no headway, usually with the bow into the wind or nearly so. |
| Heel |
The leaning of a vessel to one side such as caused by the wind. |
| Helm |
The steering apparatus. |
| Helmsman |
One who steers. |
| Hull |
The outer body or shell of a vessel. |
| Hull Speed |
The maximum speed a hull can achieve without planing. |
I |
|
| In Irons |
A boat is said to be in irons if it has stopped head to wind. |
| Isobars |
Lines of equal atmospheric pressure drawn on a weather map. |
J |
|
| Jackstay |
Rigged line to which safety harnesses may be clipped. |
| Jackyard |
A yard or pole extending the head or foot of the topsail beyond the topmast or gaff of a gaff-rigged boat. |
| Jam Cleat |
A cleat designed to allow a line to be made fast quickly by jamming it down. |
| Jetsam |
Anything thrown overboard. |
| Jib |
The foremost sail. Triangular sail set on a stay forward of the mast. |
| Jibe |
Changing sail from one side to another with wind astern. |
| Jibstay |
Another word for headstay on which jibs are hoisted. |
| Jury Rig |
A temporary replacement of any part of the boat's rigging setup after it has broken. |
K |
|
| Kedge |
A small auxiliary anchor. Also, to kedge is to move a vessel by setting out a kedge and pulling the boat toward it by taking up on the anchor rode. |
| Keel |
The fixed underwater part of a boat used to prevent sideways drift and provide stability. This is the lowest length-ways timber upon which the framework of the rest of the vessel is built. The 'backbone' of a boat. |
| Ketch |
A two masted fore-and-aft rigged boat with the forward mast being the main mast. |
| King Post |
A vertical post usually employed as a support. |
| Knot |
A
measurement of speed, one knot equals one nautical mile per
hour (1 knot equals 1.85 km/hour). Also, a general term for
securing a line to an object, another line, or itself. |
L |
|
| Lacing |
A length of line or thin rope. |
| Landfall |
Arrival at land. |
| Lanyard |
A short line or rope used to attach one thing to another. |
| Lapper |
A large foresail which extends aft behind the mast. |
| Lashing |
A rope used for securing any movable object in place. |
| Latitude |
Lines of latitude are used to measure distance north or south of the Equator. The Equator is 0º. All other lines of latitude run parallel to the Equator up to 90º at the North Pole and to 90º at the South Pole. When you have worked out your latitude and longitude together you can determine a vessel's exact position. |
| Lay Up |
To store a yacht or ship away for the winter. |
| Lead |
A lead weight which is attached to the line to find out how much water is below boat. |
| Lee |
The area to the leeward. |
| Leeboards |
Boards fixed vertically to prevent leeway. |
| Leech |
The aftermost edge of a for-and-aft sail. |
| Lee Shore |
One onto which wind or current could force a boat. |
| Lee Side |
The side away or opposite that from which the wind blows. Also, an area sheltered from the wind. |
| Leeward |
Direction away from the wind; downwind. |
| Leeway |
Sidewise movement of a boat through the water, caused by wind or current. |
| Lie To |
See Heave To. |
| Lightship |
A stationary vessel carrying a light used for navigation. |
| List |
The leaning of a vessel to one side, caused by misplaced gear, shifting cargo, or improper ballast. |
| Log |
A permanent record of the day-to-day progress of a vessel, including all events which occurred, the vessel's speed and any other related matters. |
| Longitude |
Lines of Longitude commence at the North Pole and run to the South pole. They are all of equal length and are furthest apart at the Equator. They are used on maps and charts to determine distance in degrees east or west of the Greenwich Meridian which is at 0º. |
| Loose |
To loose a rope is to let it go. |
| Loran |
A system of long range radio navigation used to find position. |
| Luff |
The forward edge of a for-and-aft sail. |
| Luffing |
To luff or luff up is to head into the wind, causing sails to flutter. |
| Lug |
or Lugsail, a four sided sail bent onto a yard. |
| Lugger |
A boat, usually a fishing boat, rigged with lugsails. |
M |
|
| Mainsail |
Boat's principle sail, set aft of mainmast. |
| Make Fast |
To secure a line. |
| Mark |
An object used as a reference point while navigating. |
| Marline Spike |
A pointed tapering iron or wooden spike used for opening strands of rope. |
| Mast |
A pole or spar placed vertically for hoisting sails. |
| Masthead |
The top of the mast. |
| Masthead Sloop |
A sloop whose headstay reaches the mast head. |
| Mast Step |
A recess or fitting in a vessel's keel into which the base of the mast is positioned. |
| Mercator Projection |
A form of map. |
| Meter Class |
A measurement rule for for rating boats. |
| Midship |
In the middle portion of the boat. |
| Millibar |
A unit of barometric pressure. |
| Mizzen |
The aftermost mast of a ketch or yawl. |
| Moor |
To fasten a vessel to a mooring. |
| Mooring |
Any arrangement of anchors and rodes that are permanently set. |
N |
|
| Narrows |
Small passages. |
| Nautical Almanac |
An annual book containing astronomical and tidal information. |
| Nautical Mile |
One 60th of a degree of latitude, or one minute of latitude. Approximately equal to 6,076.1 feet, or 1.15 statute miles. |
| Navigation |
The science of plotting a vessel's route from one position to the next in the least amount of time and with the maximum safety. |
| Neep Tides |
Tides with smaller range than spring tides two days after the fist and last quarters of the moon. |
| No-Go Zone |
Area into which a boat can not go without tacking. |
O |
|
| Oarlock |
See
Row Lock. |
| Offshore |
Away from shore. |
| Offwind |
Any point of sailing away from the wind. |
| One-Design |
Any boat built to conform to a rule so that it is identical to all other boats. |
| Onshore |
Toward the shore. |
| Outhaul |
A line or device which hauls aft on the clew (foot) of the main sail. |
| Out Point |
To sail closer to the wind than another boat. |
| Overfall |
A wave that breaks sharply over a shoal or where currents meet. |
P |
|
| Paddle |
A small oar. |
| Painter |
A line attached to the bow of a small boat or dinghy for towing or making fast. |
| Palm |
A sailmaker's version of a thimble. |
| Partners |
The opening in the deck through which the mast passes. |
| Payout |
Slacken or let out a line. |
| Peak |
The upper corner of a four-sided sail. |
| Pendant |
Short rope serving as an extension of a line, chain, cable with descriptive name based on use, e.g., mooring pendant. |
| Pennant |
A long, tapering flag. |
| Pier |
A loading platform extending out from the shore. |
| Pinch |
To sail too close to the wind. |
| Pitch Pole |
Said of a boat which somersaults stern over bow. To capsize end over end. |
| Plane |
To gain hydrodynamic lift causing the boat to lift./font> |
| Planking |
The covering of the ribs of the boat./font> |
| Plot |
To mark a course on a chart./font> |
| Point |
Divisions of a compass which has 32 points. |
| Point High |
To sail very close to the wind. |
| Points to Sailing |
The different angles from the wind on which a boat can sail. |
| Poop |
A raised deck on the after part of the ship. |
| Port |
The left side of the boat when facing forward. Also, a harbor. |
| Position
Line |
(or
Line of Position) A position line is a line along which the
boat is positioned. |
| Preventer |
Additional stay line used to prevent the boom from jibing. |
| Prop Walk |
The sideways effect of the propeller on the stern. |
| Protest Signal |
A signal which is hoisted during a sailing race to protest the actions of another. |
| Prow |
The bow and fore part of a vessel. |
| Pulpit |
An elevated guardrail set up at the bow or stern. |
| Punt |
Flat bottomed boat square at either end. |
Q |
|
| Quarter |
The portion of the ship midway between the beam and stern. Afterpart of a vessel's side (port quarter, starboard quarter). |
| Quarter Berth |
A bunk which runs under the cockpit. |
| Quartering |
With the wind and/or waves on the quarter. |
R |
|
| Race |
A strong, confused tide or current. |
| Rating |
A method of measuring certain dimensions of yachts. |
| Ratlines |
Small lines that form steps to function as a ladder to climb the rigging. |
| Reach |
A point of sail between close-hauled and a run. Also, a distance, or fetch. |
| Reef |
To reduce the sailing area by folding or rolling. |
| Reeve |
To pass something through a hole. |
| Relative Bearing |
Direction of an object relative to a boat's heading. |
| Ribs |
The wood that forms the boat's frame. |
| Ride |
To lie at anchor. |
| Riding Light |
An all around white light. |
| Rig |
The way a boats spars and sails are arranged. |
| Rigging |
The system of all the wires and ropes. |
| Roach |
The curved leech of a sail. |
| Rode |
An anchor line. |
| Rowlock |
A space in the gunwale for an oar. |
| Rudder |
Used for steering the vessel. |
| Rudder Post |
The aftermost timber of the boat. |
| Run |
To sail with the wind aft. |
| Running Backstay |
A movable backstay. |
| Running Rigging |
The generic term for sheets and halyards. |
S |
|
| Safety Harness |
A harness worn by crew and tethered to the boat with a line to prevent the wearer from falling overboard. |
| Sampson Post |
A strong vertical post in which lines can be attached. |
| Schooner |
A boat with two or more masts. |
| Scope |
The ratio of the length of the payed out anchor line (Rode) to the height of the chock above the bottom of the body of water. |
| Scupper |
Opening in the bulwarks to drain the deck of water. |
| Sea Anchor |
A drogue or drag device to slow down a boat. |
| Seacock |
A valve fitted to an underwater inlet on a vessel. |
| Set |
To set sail is to hoist the sails into sailing position. |
| Sextant |
A navigational instrument used to measure the altitude of celestial bodies. |
| Shake |
To let it out. |
| Shank |
The main shaft of an anchor. |
| Sheave |
The pulley wheel in a block. |
| Sheer |
The straight or curved line of the deck line. |
| Sheet |
Line used to position a sail relative to the wind. |
| Shell |
The metal casing of a block which holds a pin. |
| Shroud |
Standing rigging that supports a mast laterally. |
| Side Lights |
Navigation lights; green is to starboard, red to port. |
| Single Up |
To cast off all but one remaining line. |
| Skeg |
An extension of the keel for protection of propeller and rudder. |
| Slack Tide |
A short period at the turn of the tide. |
| Slack Water |
Minimum velocity of a tidal current (sometimes abbreviated 'Slack'). |
| Slip |
To let go purposely. |
| Sloop |
A single-masted boat. |
| Snatch Block |
A block into which a line can be placed without being threaded. |
| SOG |
Speed Over Ground, speed relative to bottom. |
| Soundings |
Assessment of depth. |
| Spar |
Another term for masts. |
| Spill |
To spill the sails is to shake the wind out. |
| Spinnaker |
A lightweight three-cornered sail. |
| Spit |
A small projection of land. |
| Splicing |
A strong way of joining ropes without the use of knots. |
| Spring Tides |
The highest tides. |
| Speed |
Rate of motion. |
| Spirit |
A spar that extends from the mast. |
| Stanchion |
A post used to support guardrails and lifelines. |
| Standing Rigging |
The shroud and stays which support the mast. |
| Stand-On Boat |
One that has the right-of-way and should maintain her course and speed. |
| Starboard |
The right hand side of the boat when facing forwards. |
| Stays |
The part of the standing rigging which support the mast in fore and aft direction. |
| Staysail |
A triangular headsail hanked to a forestay. |
| Steerage Way |
Sufficient movement through the water to allow the boat to be steered by the rudder. |
| Stem |
The leading edge of a vessel's hull. |
| Step |
A recess into the keel in which the mast is placed. |
| Stern |
The afterpart of a vessel. |
| Stern Rail |
An elevated guard rail at the rear of the boat. |
| Stops |
Small lines used to tie the sails when furled. |
| Swamp |
To fill with water, but not to founder. |
| Sweat |
To haul up tight. |
T |
|
| Tack |
The forward lower corner of a fore-and-aft sail. |
| Tacking |
Name given to the zig-zag course which is steered in order to make progress against the wind. |
| Tackle |
A purchase system using ropes and blocks. |
| Tang |
A metal fitting that the stays attached to the mast. |
| Tell Tales |
Small lengths of wool sewn on the sail. |
| Tender |
A small boat used to ferry passengers between a larger vessel and the shore. |
| Thimble |
A metal loop around to form a hard eye. |
| Thwart |
A seat running across dinghy. |
| Tidal Current |
The horizontal movement of the water due to tide. |
| Tide |
Vertical rise of the water. |
| Tideaway |
Part of a channel were the tide is the strongest. |
| Tiller |
An attachment to the rudder used to turn the rudder. |
| Topping Lift |
A tackle or rope used for for supporting the boom. |
| Topside |
On or above a weather deck; a deck wholly exposed to the elements. |
| Topsides |
The sides of a vessel between the waterline and the deck. See Freeboard. |
| Track |
Prospective course for boat to follow. |
| Transom |
The athwartship portion of a hull at the stern. |
| Traveller |
A slide which travels on a track. |
| Trim |
The longitudinal balance of a boat. If either the bow or stern is depressed, the vessel is said to be down by the bow or down by the stern. Also, to adjust the set of a sail. |
| Trolling |
Fishing with light baited lines. |
| True Wind |
The speed and direction of the wind felt by a stationary object. |
| Trysail |
A triangular loose-footed sail fitted aft of the mast. |
| Turnbuckle |
A device used to maintain correct tension on standing rigging. |
U |
|
|
|
V |
|
| Vang |
