SAILING TERMINOLOGY

• Apparent Wind: The wind that flows over a moving boat, which is the result of the “true wind” affected by the movement of the boat.
• Back – To push a sail out against the wind to help turn the boat.
• Beam Reach – Sailing at approximately 90 degrees to the wind source with the wind coming from abeam and the sails let out about halfway. (One of the points of sail.)
• Beam- The widest dimension of the hull of a boat.
• Bear Away- The act of steering a boat away from the wind.
• Beating – Sailing toward the wind source, or against the wind, with
• the sail pulled in all the way, tacking as you go, to reach destination
• upwind.
• Boom Vang – A control line, usually a multi-purchase tackle, secured to the boom to prevent it from lifting when the wind hits the sail.
• Bow- The front portion of a boat.
• Broad Reach – Sailing with the wind coming over the rear corner of the boat, or with the bow approximately 135 degrees to the wind source. (One of the points of sail.)
• Cast-Off – To untie a line and let it go, or to remove a line from a cleat and let it go.
• Close-Hauled: Describes a boat sailing as close to the wind as possible with its sails pulled in all the way. Syn. On the Wind,
• Sailing to Weather, Sailing to Windward, Sailing Upwind
• Close Reach: Sailing with the wind just forward of abeam, or the bow approximately 70 degrees to the wind source. (One of the points of sail.)
• Come About: To turn the bow of a sailboat through the wind, or no-go-zone, so that the sails fill on the opposite side. Syn. Tack
• Downwind: In the opposite direction from the wind source, or where the wind is blowing to. Syn. Leeward.
• Ease: To let out a line or sail.
• Feathering: Sailing upwind so close to the wind that the forward edge of the sail is stalling or luffing, reducing the power generated by the sail and the angle of heel. Syn. High, Light, Pinching, Sailing Thin.
• Halyard: A line used to raise or lower a sail.
• “Hard-a-Lee:” A command made by the helmsman when the tiller is moved to leeward to tack a sailboat. Syn. “Coming About, “Tacking,” “Helm’s a- Lee.”
• Head Down: To turn the boat away from the wind. Syn. Bear Away, Bear Off, Come Down, Fall Off, Head Off.
• Head Up: To turn the boat toward the wind. Syn. Bear Up, Come Up, Go Up, Harden Up, Luff up.
• Head-to-Wind: When the bow of the boat is pointing directly into the wind, or in the middle of the no-go zone.
• Heel: When a boat leans over or tips to one side.
• Helm: The tiller or wheel of a boat.
• Helmsman: The person who steers or drives a boat. Syn. Skipper
• Hiking: When a person leans over the side of a boat to counteract heel.
• In Irons: When a boat is pointed into the wind and has stopped or is moving backward through the water, and is temporarily unable to turn onto either tack.
• In the Groove: When a sailboat is moving well with proper balance and sail trim, and is steered so the sails are working at their best with the telltales flowing properly.
• Jibe: Changing from one tack to the other when sailing downwind. The mainsail swings across the boat, which can be a controlled maneuver or can happen unexpectedly as the wind crosses the stern. Syn. Gybe, Jibing, Gybing
• “Jibe Ho:” A command made by the helmsman as he or she starts to jibe.
• Keel: The fixed underwater fin on a sailboat hull which helps provide stability and prevents the boat from slipping sideways.
• Knot: One nautical mile per hour. 1 knot equals 1.15 miles per hour.
• Leeward: In the opposite direction from the wind source, or where the wind is blowing to. Syn. Downwind
• Leeward Side: The side of a sailboat or a sail, away from the wind source.
• Line: A rope used for a function on the boat, such as a sheet, halyard, Cunningham or painter.
• Luffing: When the sail is stalling or flapping at its forward edge, or the entire sail is flapping. Syn. Feathering, High, Light, Pinching, Soft
• Lull: A decrease in wind speed for a short duration.
• No-Go Zone: The area into the wind where a sailboat cannot sail, even with the sails pulled in all-the-way. The zone covers the direction pointing directly into the wind source and extending to about 45 degrees on either side of it.
• Off the Wind: Any of the points of sail, except sailing upwind.
• Offshore Wind: Wind blowing away from the shore to the water. Syn. Land Breeze
• One Design: Any boat built to conform to rules so that it is identical to all others in the same class.
• Onshore Wind: Wind blowing from the water to the shore. Syn. Sea Breeze
• PFD: A personal flotation device. Syn. Life Jacket, Life Vest.
• Points of Sail: The headings of a sailboat in relation to the wind, i.e. close-hauled, close reach, reach, broad reach, run.
• Port: The left side of the boat (when looking forward.)
• Push-Pull Principle: The way a sail generates power to propel a boat through the water. The wind acts to either push or pull the boat.
• Reach: Sailing with the wind coming over the side, or abeam.
• “Ready About:” A command made before tacking to ensure everyone is ready to tack. Syn. “Prepare to Tack,” “Ready to Tack.”
• Run: Sailing away from the wind source with the sails let out all the way. Syn. Downwind, With the Wind (One of the points of sail.)
• Running Rigging: The lines and associated fittings used to adjust
• and trim the sails, such as halyards, sheets, outhaul, Cunningham or boom vang. Syn. Control Line, Sail Controls
• Safety Position: When a boat is stopped with the sails eased and flapping with the wind coming from the side.
• Sail Trim: The positioning and shape of the sails to the wind.
• Scull: To propel a sailboat forward by moving the rudder and tiller side to side repeatedly.
• Sea Breeze: Wind resulting from cooler air over the water moving in to replace the warm air that rises over the land.
• Sheet:
  • 1. The rope which pulls in or lets out a sail.
  • 2. To adjust a sail by using the sheet. Syn. Set, Trim, Sheet In, Pull In, Take In.
• Sheet Out: To let out a sail. Syn. Ease, Let Off
• S-Jibe: A method of jibing a sailboat which results in the mainsail crossing the boat under control. The path of the boat makes an “S.”
• Squall: A strong wind of short duration, usually appearing
• suddenly and accompanied by rain.
• Starboard: The right side of a boat (when looking forward.)
• Tack: To turn the bow of a sailboat through the wind or no-go zone so that the sails fill on the opposite side. Syn. Come About.
• Tacking: The maneuver of turning a sailboat through the no-go zone so the sails fill on the opposite tack. Syn. Coming About
• Telltales: Short pieces of yarn, ribbon, thread, or tape attached to the sail, or on the shrouds which are used to show the air flow over the sail, or the the apparent wind direction (when placed on the shrouds.)
• Trim: To adjust a sail by using the sheet. Syn. Sheet, Set
• Upwind: In the direction of the wind source or where the wind is blowing from. Syn. Windward. To Weather
• Windward: In the direction toward the wind source, or where the wind is blowing from. Syn. To Weather, Upwind
• Windward Side: The side of the sailboat or sail toward the wind source. Syn. High Side, Weather Side, Upwind Side.
• Wing and Wing: Sailing directly downwind with the jib and mainsail set on opposite sides of the boat to capture more wind.