Sailboat lingo full#

The sail to be set would be a matter of precision. Next: Sailing Terms from Bridle to Clevis Pin.Several other answers cover the extremeness of 'All sail' or 'Crowd Sail' etc.Īs anyone with sailing knowledge can explain there's no single on switch for the situation you describe. Read more about mast rigging.īow ~ The forward or pointed end of the boat.īow Roller ~ A fairlead for the anchor warp, attached to the vessel.īowsprit ~ A pole extending forward of the bow, from which to attach a headsail's 'tack'.īoxing the Compass ~ A sailing term referring to the naming of the 32 points of a compass.īridgedeck ~ The platform connecting the two hulls of a catamaran.

Which tension the standing rigging that supports the mast. Unlike theĬharacter shown here, an additional safety line should always be worn -īut there are other means of getting aloft, and you can read about them here.īoomkin (or Bumkin) ~ A spar extending aft of the stern, to support a permanent backstay or for sheeting a mizzen sail.īoom Vang ~ A line, or more usually a tackle, used for holding the forward part of the boom down.īottlescrew ~ Double ended screws, also known as a rigging screws or turnbuckles Read more about masts and spars.īoom Vang ~ A line, usually a tackle for holding down the forward part of the boom.īoot Topping ~ A painted band along a boat’s waterline.īosun’s Chair ~ A seat, usually made of wood or canvas,Īttached to a halyard and used to haul someone up the mast. Wetted area means that in sailing terms, bilge-keelers are slower than fin keeled yachts -Ī price some sailors are willing to pay for a boat that can be kept on aīinnacle ~ A container which supports and protects the compassīitter end ~ The last link of a chain or the end of a line.īitts ~ Pairs of stout posts on the foredeck for securing mooring lines.īobstay ~ A stay which braces the 'bowsprit' to the hull just above the waterline or some point low on the stem.īollard ~ A strong point to secure a mooring warp, either on the dock or the boat.īoltrope ~ A line sewn into the edge of a sail.īoom ~ The long spar which extends from the mast along the foot of a fore-and-aft sail. Keel fitted either side of the centreline to enable it to dry out (2) To secure a sail to a spar before hoisting.īilge keel ~ Instead of a single keel on the centreline, a bilge keel yacht like the one shown here has a 'belayed'.īend ~ (1) A type of knot such as a sheet bend for joining two lines together. Usually meant for sheets and halyards.īelaying Pin ~ Vertical pin to which halyards and other parts of the running rigging are fastened – i.e.

Sailboat lingo full#

Also called 'close hauled'.īeating ~ Going towards the wind, by a zig-zag course (or tacking).īeafort Scale ~ A system developed by Sir Francis Beaufort for estimating wind strengths through observation of the sea state, ranging through Force 0 (a flat calm sea) to Force 12 (a full hurricane).īecalmed ~ A windless condition for a sailboat, either through a dropping of the wind or being in the lee of a land mass or larger vessel.īefore the Wind ~ A sailing term meaning that the wind is coming from astern.īeds ~ The bearers that support the engine.īelay ~ To make fast. coming directly from one side.īear Away ~ To steer a boat away from the wind.īear Down ~ A boat approaching from an upwind direction is said to be ‘bearing down’.īear Off ~ To steer away from an obstruction or other danger.īearing ~ A direction from the boat, usually stated in degrees or alternatively in relation to a part of the boat, as in ‘fine on the port bow’.īeat ~ To sail as close to the wind's direction as possible. From Beam to Bridgedeck.īeam ~ (1)The widest part of the boat.(2) A transverse member that supports the deck.īeam Ends ~ A boat on its beam ends is heeled over so far that its deck beams are almost vertical.īeam Reach ~ Sailing with the wind 'abeam' - i.e.