Aft
Toward the back of the boat
Apparent wind
Where the wind seems to be coming from, as opposed to true wind. Specifically when you are sailing, the wind feels like it is coming from in front of the boat since you're moving forward
Back the jib
To pull the clew of Jib to side of boat in order to fill it, used for getting out of irons, coming about on catamarans, and sailing away from the mooring
Batten
A thin strip of wood or fiberglass slipped into the leach of the sail to help the sail retain shape and catch wind
Beam reach
Point of sailing when the boat is sailing approximately 90 degrees to the wind (across the wind) and the sail is halfway out. It is between a close reach and a broad reach
Block
What pulleys are called on boats. They create mechanical advantage so that lines are easier to pull in
Bolt rope
The line along the luff edge of the sail that is fed into the mast
Boom
The spar along the foot of the main sail that the main sheet runs through
Boom vang
A line and block system that adjusts the verticals position of the boom
Bow
The front half of the boat
Bowline
A very secure knot used to make a loop
Broad reach
Point of sailing when the sail is 3/4 of the way out and the boat is heading downwind but not directly with the wind. It is between a beam reach and a run
Centerboard
A board that is slid down the center of the boat into the water below. It keeps the boat from sliding sideways across the water and keeps the boat going straight ahead
Clew
The back corner of the sail
Close hauled
Point of sailing that is as close to sailing into the wind as possible. Usually it will be about 45-60 degrees to the wind. The sail is pulled all the way in
Close reach
Point of sailing between a beam reach and close hauled. It is about 75 degrees to the wind
Cockpit
The open area of the boat where the crew and skipper put their feet
Come about
To change tacks by pointing the bow of the boat through the eye of the wind
Cunningham
Another name for the downhaul on the main sail
Daggerboard
Like the centerboard, but pulls straight out of the boat. Sunfish have these
Deck
The part of the hull that the crew and skipper usually sit in. It is parallel with the water
Downhaul
The line that is pulled to tighten the front edge of the sail, it is attached to the tack of the sail
Downwind
Away from the wind. To head this way pull the tiller away from the sail
Ease
To let out a line, especially a sheet. To sheet out
Fairlead
Anything that changes direction of a line on the boat, usually a ring. For example, the black ring that the sunfish halyard goes through before being cleared is called a Fairlead
Fall off
To point the boat more downwind than your current course. To do this pull the tiller away from the sail and sheet out
Figure eight or stopper knot
Used on the ends of lines (especially sheets) so that they do not slip through blocks or fair leads
Fly
To let the sail go, sheet out completely by letting go of the sheet. This is done when you want to stop or slow down immediately or when you are in danger of capsizing
Foot
The bottom edge of the sail
Fore
Towards the front of the boat
Forestay
The stay attaching to the front of the boat
Furl
A special knot used to bind sails to the boom after rolling them
Gooseneck
The mechanism that attaches the boom to the mast
Gunwale
The edge of the boat also known as the gunnel
Gust
A sudden increase in wind speed. Often these are seen as dark areas on the lake. Gusts may also have a shift in wind direction
Halyard
The line used to haul up the sail. There are both main and jib ones. Never let go of a halyard, as it will fly up to the top of the mast
Head
The top of the sail
Head down
To point the boat more downward by pulling the tiller away from the sail and sheeting out
Head up
To point the boat more into the wind by pushing the tiller towards the sail and sheeting in
Header
When the wind shifts and comes more in front of the boat
Heeling
When the boat tilts to leeward. Balance boat by leaving to windward side (hiking) scows should be heeled to 30 degrees, other boats fastest flat
High side
The side of the bot that is nearest the wind
Hiking
Leaning back over the windward side of the boat in order to balance a heeling boat
Hull
The body of the boat
Irons
When the boat is headed directly into the Ing and the sails are puffing. The boat is either stopped or drifting backwards
Jib
The smaller sail
In the front of tne boat
Jib sheet
The line that controls the jib
Jibe
To change tacks by turning the stern of the boat through the eye of the wind
Leach
The imaginary line on the sail from the head to the clew
Leeward
The side of the boat that is not facing the wind. This is the side of the boat that the mainsail is always on
Lift
When the wind shifts to come from more behind the boat
Line
What all ropes are called on the sailboat
Low side
The side of the boat (away from the wind) this is the side of the boat that is down when the boat heels
Luff
The front edge of the sail or when the front edge of the sail billows from behind. When the sail _______ either sheet in or head more downwind
Mainsail
The larger sail on the boat that is connected to both the boom and the mast
Mooring
The buoy that the boats are attached to when it is not in use
Outhaul
The line used to tighten the foot of the sail. It is connected to the clew of the sail and then to the back of the boom
Painter
The line connecting the boat and the mooring when not sailing
Points of sail
The heading (direction) of the boat in relation to the wind
Port
The left side of the boat
Port tack
When the wind comes over the port side of the boat and the sail is on the starboard side
Reef
To decrease the sail area by not raising the last foot or two of the sail. Instead it is lashed to the boom. This is done on days with very heavy winds to depower the boat
Rig
To prepare the boy for sail
Roach
The slightly curved back edge of the sail
Rudder
The board in the water which is attached to the tiller and which turns the boat as the tiller is moved
Run
Point of sailing when the boat is sailing directly with the wind and the sail is all the way out
Sheet
The line that controls a sail (main sheet or jib sheet)
Sheet in
Pull in a sheet. This is done when the sail is lugging, when turning more upwind, or when performing a controlled jibe
Sheet out
Let out a sheet. This is done when the sail is too tight, when turning more downwind or when slowing/stopping
Shooting the mooring
To approach a mooring by pointing the boat into the wind and stop in irons at the mooring
Shroud
A sidestay. Gives support to the mast
Skipper
The person in charge of the boat
Spar
A metal or wood pole used on a boat, the boom and mast are examples
Spinnaker
A large colorful third sail which is used to increase speed when sailing downwind
Square knot
Used to tie two ropes together
Starboard
The right side of the boat
Starboard tack
Wind is coming over the starboard side and the sail is over port side
Stern
The back half of the boat
Standing rigging
The sails, sheets, halyards and stays as opposed to the running rigging
Tack
To come about, or to zigzag close hauled to close hauled in order to reach an upwind destination. Can also refer to the free corner of the sail or a port vs starboard tack
Telltale
Yarn tied into the luff of a sail or onto the side stays. On the stays the yarn helps identify wind direction. On the sails it helps with sail trim. Both of them should be horizontal when sailing upwind. If one is fluttering, trim the sail towards that __
Tiller
The handle or pair of handles attached to the rudder(s) which allows the skipper to steer the boat
Transom
The back end of the bot that is perpendicular to the water. The rudder is usually attached to it, and the name of the boat is often painted there
Traveler
The bar, track, or line across the stern of the boat to which the main sheet attaches. The ________ helps control sideways movement of the mainsail and boom and can adjust the position of the boom
Trim
Adjusting the sail in or out so that it is neither kidding nor too tight
True wind
The direction the wind is blowing, as opposed to the apparent wind. This can be determined by looking at the direction that a flag is blowing, the direction that the boats are pointing at the moorings, or the direction of the waves
Turtle
To capsize a boat so that the hull faces the sky and the mast points straight down
Upwind
Towards the wind. Head ______ by pushing the tiller towards the sail
Weather helm
The tendency of a boat that is heeling to point itself into the eye of the wind. This can be corrected by holding the tiller farther away from the sail (and away from the center of the boat) and sheeting in the jib
Wing and wing
Sailing on a run with the jib trimmed to one side of the boat and the main trimmed to the other side
Windward
The side of the boat that the wind passes over first. It will always be the side opposite the sail. The skipper generally site on the windward side of the boat. Also, any pint that is between the boat and the eye of the wind is said to be "to windward