100 Sailing Terms Demystified

Sailing Terms A to Z

A

• Abaft: Towards the rear of the boat.
• Abeam: Perpendicular to the boat’s centerline.
• Admiral: The highest-ranking officer on a boat.
• Aft: Towards the back of the boat.
• Anchor: A heavyweight used to keep the boat in place.
• Astern: Behind the boat.

B

• Ballast: Weight added to the boat to improve stability.
• Batten: A thin strip of wood or plastic stiffening sails.
• Beam: The widest part of the boat.
• Berth: A place to sleep on a boat.
• Bilge: The lowest part of the boat where water collects.
• Block: A pulley used to change the direction of a line.
• Boom: A horizontal spar used to hold the foot of the sail.
• Bow: The front of the boat.
• Bowline: A knot used to create a fixed loop at the end of a line.
• Bulkhead: A vertical partition in the boat’s interior.
• Buoy: A floating marker indicates navigational hazards or channel markers.

C

• Capsize: To turn a boat over.
• Catamaran: A boat with two parallel hulls.
• Centerboard: A retractable fin used to prevent sideways movement of the boat.
• Cleat: A fitting used to secure a line.
• Compass: An instrument used to determine direction.
• Course: The direction in which a boat is sailing.
• Crew: The people on board a boat.
• Current: The movement of water in a particular direction.

D

• Daggerboard: A vertical board used to prevent sideways movement of the boat.
• Davit: A device used to hoist and lower objects.
• Dead reckoning: Navigation by estimating the boat’s position based on course and speed.
• Deck: The top surface of the boat.
• Deadhead: A log or other floating debris that poses a hazard to navigation.
• Draft: The amount of water a boat displaces when afloat.
• Draft: The depth of the boat below the waterline.

F

• Fathom: A unit of measurement for water depth.
• Fairlead: A device used to guide lines in the desired direction.
• Fender: A cushion used to prevent damage to the boat when docking.
• Fluke: The part of an anchor that digs into the bottom.
• Foot: The lower edge of a sail.
• Forestay: A wire or cable that supports the mast from the boat’s bow.

G

• Galley: The kitchen area on a boat.
• Gybe: To change direction with the wind behind the boat.

H

• Halyard: A line used to hoist or lower a sail.
• Hatch: An opening in the deck or hull of a boat.
• Head: The toilet on a boat.
• Headway: The forward motion of a boat.
• Heel: The angle at which a boat leans over.
• Helm: The steering mechanism on a boat.
• Hull: The main body of a boat.

J

• Jib: A triangular sail at the front of the boat.

K

• Keel: A fin or blade extending from the boat’s bottom to provide stability.
• Knot: A unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour.

L

• Lanyard: A short line used to attach things.
• Latitude: A measure of a boat’s position north or south of the equator.
• Lee: The side of the boat away from the wind.
• Leeward: The side of the boat away from the wind.
• Lifeline: A cable or line used to prevent falling overboard.
• Log: A device used to measure the boat’s speed through the water.

M

• Mainmast: The tallest mast on a sailing ship.
• Mainsail: The largest sail on a boat.
• Mast: A vertical spar used to support sails.
• Mainsheet: The line used to control the angle of the mainsail.
• Marlinespike: A tool used to work with rope or wire.
• Mooring: A place where a boat can be tied up.

N

• Nautical mile: A distance equal to one minute of arc along the Earth’s meridian.
• Navigation: The process of determining a boat’s position and course.

O

• Oar: A long, narrow paddle used for rowing.
• Onshore: Towards the shore.
• Outboard: A motor attached to a boat’s outside.
• Overboard: Over the side of the boat.

P

• PFD: Personal flotation device, a lifejacket.
• Port: The left side of the boat when facing forward.

R

• Rudder: A flat plate used to steer the boat.
• Running rigging: The lines used to control the sails while sailing.

S

• Sailing: The act of propelling a boat using wind power.
• Sailing dinghy: A small sailboat typically used for racing or leisure sailing.
• Scuttle: A small opening in the deck or hull of a boat.
• Sheet: A line used to control the angle of a sail.
• Shroud: A wire or cable supports the mast from the boat’s sides.
• Skipper: The person in charge of a boat.
• Spinnaker: A large, light sail used for downwind sailing.
• Starboard: The right side of the boat when facing forward.
• Stern: The back of the boat.

T

• Tack: Change direction with the wind crossing the boat’s bow.
• Tiller: A handle used to steer the boat.
• Topside: The upper part of the boat.
• Transom: The flat, vertical surface at the back of the boat.
• Trim: To adjust the sails to optimize performance.
• True wind: The wind direction and speed without any effect from the boat’s motion.

U

• Underway: When a boat is moving through the water.

V

• Vang: A line used to control the horizontal position of the boom.

W

• Wake: The disturbance in the water caused by a moving boat.
• Waterline: The line where the hull meets the water.
• Waypoint: A specific location used for navigation.
• Weather helm: The tendency of a boat to turn into the wind.
• Windward: The side of the boat facing into the wind.
• Winch: A mechanical device used to control lines under tension.
• Yacht: A large, luxurious sailboat for leisure sailing or racing.
• Zephyr: A light, gentle wind.