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Sailing terms,
made clear.
Search more than 100 essential sailing words—from boat parts and sail controls to maneuvers, wind, navigation and safety.
Abeam
At a right angle to the boat’s centerline, directly off either side.
Aft
Toward the stern, or back, of the boat.
Ahead
In front of the boat or moving forward.
Aids to Navigation
Buoys, daymarks, lights and other markers that help mariners identify channels, hazards and safe routes.
Amidships
Near the middle of the boat, between the bow and stern.
Apparent wind
The wind experienced on a moving boat—the combination of true wind and the airflow created by the boat’s motion.
Astern
Behind the boat; also used for moving backward.
Backstay
Standing rigging that supports the mast from aft.
Batten
A flexible strip inserted into a sail pocket to support the sail’s shape, especially along the leech.
Beam
The boat’s width at its widest point.
Beam reach
A point of sail with the apparent wind coming approximately across the boat’s beam.
Bear away
To turn the bow away from the wind; also called falling off.
Beat
To sail toward an upwind destination by making a series of close-hauled tacks.
Bilge
The lowest interior area of the hull, where water may collect.
Bight
A curved section or loop of line between its ends.
Boom
The horizontal spar attached to the mast that supports and controls the foot of the mainsail.
Boom vang
A control that pulls the boom downward and helps manage mainsail twist and shape.
Bow
The forward end of the boat.
Bowline
A knot that forms a secure fixed loop and is widely used aboard sailboats.
Breast line
A dock line leading roughly at a right angle from the boat to the dock to control sideways movement.
Broach
A sudden, uncontrolled turn toward the wind, often accompanied by excessive heel and loss of steering control.
Bulkhead
A vertical partition inside a boat that divides spaces and may provide structural support.
Buoy
A floating aid used to mark a channel, hazard, mooring or other important location.
Centerboard
A retractable underwater foil that reduces sideways motion and helps the boat sail to windward.
Cleat
A fitting used to secure a line.
Clew
The aft lower corner of a sail.
Close-hauled
Sailing as close to the wind as the boat can efficiently sail, normally about 40°–45° off the true wind for many cruising boats.
Close reach
A point of sail between close-hauled and a beam reach.
Cockpit
The recessed area where the crew sits and the boat is commonly steered and controlled.
Course
The intended direction of travel, usually expressed in degrees.
Cunningham
A sail control used to tension the mainsail luff and move draft forward.
Daggerboard
A vertical, retractable foil that slides through the hull to resist leeway.
Draft
The depth of a boat below the waterline; in sail shape, the term also means the sail’s curvature or fullness.
Ease
To let a line out gradually, reducing tension or allowing a sail to move away from the centerline.
Fairlead
A fitting that guides a line and helps it lead cleanly toward a cleat, winch or block.
Fathom
A nautical unit of depth equal to six feet.
Fender
A cushion placed between the boat and a dock or another vessel to prevent damage.
Foot
The lower edge of a sail, extending from tack to clew.
Forestay
Standing rigging that supports the mast from forward and often carries the jib or genoa.
Furl
To roll or fold a sail for storage or to reduce exposed sail area.
Genoa
A large headsail whose clew extends aft of the mast when set.
Give-way vessel
The vessel required by the navigation rules to take early and substantial action to keep clear.
Gooseneck
The fitting that connects the forward end of the boom to the mast.
Gybe (jibe)
A maneuver in which the stern passes through the wind and the sails change sides. Control the boom carefully.
Halyard
A line used to raise or lower a sail, flag or spar.
Head
The top corner of a triangular sail; aboard a boat, the word can also mean the toilet compartment.
Heading
The direction in which the bow is pointing, usually expressed in degrees.
Head up
To turn the bow toward the wind; also called luffing up.
Heave-to
To balance a backed headsail, mainsail and rudder so the boat makes little forward progress and drifts slowly to leeward.
Heel
The sideways lean of a sailboat caused by wind, waves or weight distribution.
Helm
The boat’s steering system—wheel or tiller—or the position of the person steering.
In irons
Pointed into the wind with sails luffing and insufficient forward motion to steer through a tack.
Jackline
A strong line or webbing run along the deck to which a safety tether can be clipped.
Jib
A triangular headsail set forward of the mast, usually smaller than a genoa.
Keel
The underwater structure that provides stability and resists sideways motion.
Knot
A unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour.
Latitude
Angular distance north or south of the equator, used with longitude to describe a position.
Layline
An imaginary line showing the closest course a boat can sail to reach a mark without another tack or gybe.
Leech
The aft edge of a sail.
Leeward
The side or direction away from the wind.
Leeway
Sideways movement of a boat downwind, rather than directly along its heading.
Lifeline
A wire or rope supported by stanchions around the deck edge to help keep crew aboard.
Line
The general boating term for rope when it has a purpose aboard, such as a sheet, halyard or dock line.
Longitude
Angular distance east or west of the prime meridian, used with latitude to describe a position.
Luff
The forward edge of a sail; as a verb, it also describes a sail fluttering when airflow is not attached.
Mainsail
The principal sail set on the mainmast and controlled by the mainsheet.
Mainsheet
The line and tackle used to control the angle of the boom and mainsail.
Mast
The vertical spar that supports the sails and rigging.
Mooring
A permanent or semi-permanent arrangement used to secure a boat, often using a buoy attached to ground tackle.
Nautical mile
A unit of distance equal to 1,852 meters, or approximately 1.15 statute miles.
Outhaul
A control that tensions the mainsail foot by pulling the clew aft along the boom.
Painter
A line attached to the bow of a dinghy or small boat for securing or towing it.
PFD
Personal flotation device. Wear the correct type and size for the activity and conditions.
Pinch
To sail too close to the wind, causing the sails to lose efficient airflow and the boat to slow.
Point of sail
The boat’s sailing direction relative to the wind, such as close-hauled, reaching or running.
Port
The left side of the boat when facing forward.
Port tack
Sailing with the wind coming over the port side; the boom is normally to starboard.
Reach
A point of sail with the wind coming from the side, including close, beam and broad reaches.
Reef
To reduce sail area so the boat is easier to control as wind increases.
Rigging
The wires, lines, fittings and spars that support the mast and control the sails.
Rode
The line, chain or combination connecting an anchor to the boat.
Rudder
The underwater steering surface controlled by the wheel or tiller.
Run
A downwind point of sail with the wind coming from aft.
Running rigging
The adjustable lines used to raise, lower and trim sails, including halyards and sheets.
Shackle
A U-shaped metal connector closed by a pin, used to join rigging components.
Sheet
A line used to control the angle of a sail to the wind.
Shroud
Standing rigging that supports the mast from the sides.
Spring line
A dock line led diagonally to limit forward or backward movement alongside a dock.
Squall
A sudden increase in wind speed, often associated with rapidly changing weather.
Standing rigging
The fixed wires or rods supporting the mast, including stays and shrouds.
Stand-on vessel
The vessel directed by the navigation rules to maintain course and speed while monitoring the situation.
Starboard
The right side of the boat when facing forward.
Starboard tack
Sailing with the wind coming over the starboard side; the boom is normally to port.
Stern
The aft, or back, end of the boat.
Tack
The lower forward corner of a sail; the word also identifies which side the wind comes over and describes turning the bow through the wind.
Tacking
Turning the bow through the wind so the sails fill on the opposite side.
Telltale
A small ribbon or yarn on a sail or shroud that indicates airflow direction and quality.
Tiller
A lever attached to the rudder for steering; moving it one way turns the bow the opposite way.
Traveler
An adjustable track and car that changes the mainsheet’s pulling position and helps control mainsail shape.
Trim
To adjust a sail for the course and wind, or the resulting sail position and shape.
True wind
The wind relative to the earth or water, independent of the boat’s movement.
Veer
A clockwise change in wind direction; the opposite is backing.
Wake
The disturbed water and waves left behind a moving vessel.
Winch
A mechanical drum used to increase pulling power on sheets, halyards and other loaded lines.
Windward
The side or direction from which the wind is coming.
Wing-and-wing
Sailing downwind with the mainsail and headsail set on opposite sides of the boat.
Try a shorter word or choose “All terms.”
Words that make
sailing safer.
Good terminology is not trivia. Short, standard words help a crew communicate quickly when trimming sails, changing course, docking or responding to a problem.
Directions stay fixed
Port and starboard always refer to the boat—not the direction a person is facing.
Every line has a job
A halyard raises a sail. A sheet controls its angle. A dock line secures the boat.
Wind defines the course
Points of sail describe the boat’s direction relative to the wind, not the compass.
Commands prevent surprises
Clear calls before a tack or gybe give the crew time to prepare and stay clear.
Read it.
Test it.
Sail it.
Use the glossary to learn the language, take the free quiz to check your recall, then practice the terms aboard a sailboat on Lake St. Clair.
Learn the words.
Then use them
under sail.
Lake St. Clair Sailing School teaches beginner and advancing sailors through American Sailing certification courses and hands-on instruction in Harrison Township, Michigan.
Before you
step aboard.
A little vocabulary makes the first sailing lesson easier to follow—and makes crew communication clearer from the beginning.
What sailing terms should a beginner learn first?
Start with bow, stern, port, starboard, windward, leeward, helm, mainsail, jib, sheet, halyard, tack and gybe. These words help a new sailor understand directions, sail controls and basic maneuvers.
What is the difference between a rope and a line on a sailboat?
Rope is the material. Once a piece of rope has a specific job aboard—such as controlling a sail, securing the boat or raising a flag—it is commonly called a line and may have a more specific name such as sheet or halyard.
What is the difference between port and starboard?
When facing the bow, port is the left side and starboard is the right side. The terms do not change when a person turns around, which prevents confusion aboard.
What is the difference between tacking and gybing?
During a tack, the bow passes through the wind. During a gybe, the stern passes through the wind. A gybe requires careful boom control because the mainsail can cross the boat with significant force.
Why do sailors say windward and leeward?
Windward identifies the direction the wind comes from; leeward is the direction away from it. These terms are essential for sail trim, right-of-way situations, crew positioning and understanding the boat’s motion.
Are these terms included in ASA 101?
Many of these beginner sailing terms are used throughout ASA 101 Basic Keelboat instruction. Students also learn practical boat handling, safety, sail trim, points of sail, knots and crew communication on the water.
Speak the language.
Become the sailor.
Build real boat-handling confidence with Lake St. Clair Sailing School in Harrison Township, Michigan.
