How to Sound Salty
ABAFT - Toward the stern of a boat, relative to some other part of the boat. For instance, “abaft the mainmast” indicates the area between the mainmast and the stern (back) of the boat or “abaft the fore hatch” indicates all or any of the area behind the fore hatch.
Abaft the beam - Further aft than the beam: a relative bearing of greater than 90 degrees from the bow: "two points abaft the port beam" (A point is about 11 ¼ degree - 2 points would be 22 ½ degrees.)
Abandon Ship - An order to leave the vessel immediately, usually in the face of some imminent danger. The passengers and crew must use life boats, life rafts or lifejackets when abandoning ship.
Abeam - At right angles to the centerline of a boat. Sometimes used in reference to the relative position of another object, as in “We are abeam of the Thomas Point Lighthouse.”
Adrift - Floating without control - except by wind and current.
Aft - At or toward the stern <http://www.sailfree.com/Terminology/terminol.htm> of a boat.
Aground - A boat resting on or touching sea bottom.
Ahead - Forward of the bow.
Ahoy - Word used to attract attention or hail another vessels attention.
Ahull - A vessel being driven by wind and waves. Not to be confused with adrift, ahull, as in “lying ahull” is sometimes done intentionally, lowering all sails to wait out a storm.
Alee - The side of a boat opposite to the source of the wind
Amidships - The middle area of a boat.
Anchor - An object designed to prevent or slow the drift of a ship, attached to the ship by a line or chain; typically a metal, hook-like or plough-like object designed to grip the bottom under the body of water.
Anchor ball - Round black shape hoisted in the forepart of a vessel to show that it is anchored. Used in other than a designated anchorage.
Anchor buoy - A small buoy secured by a light line to anchor to indicate position of anchor on bottom.
Anchor chain or anchor cable - Chain connecting a vessel to its anchor.
Anchor light - White light displayed by a ship at anchor. Two such lights are displayed by a ship over 150 feet in length.
Anchorage - A suitable place for a ship to anchor, often designated on a nautical chart
Apparent wind - The combination of the true wind and the wind caused by the boat's own speed. This is the wind felt on the boat, as well as the one shown by the telltales
Aspect ratio - Concerns sails - the ratio of height to the length. A narrow but tall sail has a high aspect ratio, and a wide but shorter sail has a low aspect ratio.
Astern - Toward the boat's stern
Athwartship - At right angles to the centerline of the boat.
Autopilot - A device - may be electronic or mechanical - used for keeping the boat on course without having to steer it. It uses a compass or a G.P.S. for guidance and is attached to the boat's steering mechanism.
Back a sail - To hold a sail in such a way, that the wind will fill it from the opposite to usual side. This maneuver is used to slow down the boat (as if applying brakes), or to force a boat to tack when in irons.
Backing wind - A change in wind direction running counterclockwise, as in from west to southwest, and then south.
Backstay - A rigging wire used to keep the mast from moving forward, as well as to vary the amount of bend in the mast.
Backwinded - If your sails are filled with the wind on the opposite side to what you want (for example, if they are trimmed for the starboard tack, but you get the wind from the port side), you are said to be backwinded.
Baggywrinkle - A soft covering for cables (or any other obstructions) that prevents sail chafing from occurring.
Bail - To get rid of water accumulated in the boat.
Ballast - A very heavy material, such as lead or iron, placed in the keel of the boat, or in the bilge. It is used to provide stability.
Bare poles - In a very strong wind it is possible to be propelled by the force of the wind on only the mast and the boom. To sail in such a way is called "bare poles".
Battens - Thin strips of wood or plastic inserted into batten pockets used to stiffen the leech (to preserve the shape of the sail).
Beam - The widest part of a boat.
Beam ends - The sides of a ship. "On her beam ends" may mean the vessel is literally on her side and possibly about to capsize; more often, the phrase means the vessel is listing 45 degrees or more.
Bearing - A direction an object is relative to the observer. This can be an "absolute bearing" with compass directions - (for instance, bearing 30 degrees true) or "relative bearing" such as “2 points abaft of port beam”.
Beating - Sailing closer to the wind than about about 60° (see also reaching, running and tacking).
Beaufort scale - The scale describing wind force in which winds are graded by the effect of their force. Learn More about it by clicking here.
Belay - to secure a line, for instance to a cleat or bitt; also, to cause to stop.
Belaying pins - Bars of iron or hard wood to which running rigging may be secured, or belayed.
Bend - A knot used to join two ropes or lines. Also see hitch.
Berth - A bed on a boat, or a space in a port or harbor where a boat may be tied up.
Bilge - The bilge is the compartment at the bottom of the hull of a ship or boat where water collects so that it may be pumped out of the vessel at a later time.
Bilge keels - A pair of keels on either side of the hull, usually slanted outwards. In yachts, they allow the use of a drying mooring, the boat left standing on the keels as the tide goes out.
Bimini - Weather-resistant fabric stretched over a metal frame, fastened above the cockpit of a sailboat or flybridge of a powerboat which serves as a rain or sun shade.
Binnacle - The stand on which a vessel’s compass is mounted.
Bitt - A post mounted on the ship's bow, for fastening ropes or cables.
Bitter end - The anchor cable is tied to the bitts, when the cable is fully paid out, the bitter end has been reached. Also, the last part of a rope or cable.
Block - A pulley. Often with more than one wheel (sheave being the proper name) to increase its mechanical advantage.
Boatswain (pronounced bosun) - A non-commissioned officer responsible for the sails, ropes and boats on a ship who issues "piped" commands to seamen. This definition is here only because the term “bosun’s chair” is often used aboard sailboats. A bosun’s chair attached to a hlayrd is what a crew member sits in when he climbs up the mast.
Bobstay - A stay which holds the bowsprit (or boomkin) downwards, counteracting the effect of the forestay (or backstay). Usually made of wire or chain to eliminate stretch.
Bollard - A substantial vertical pillar to which lines may be made fast. Generally on the pier rather than the ship.
Boltrope - A reinforcing rope along the luff or the foot of the sail, it is slid into a slot along the edge of a spar.
Boom- A spar (a wooden or metal pole) attached to the mast at approximately a right angle, used to support the foot of a sail.
Boom vang or vang - A sail control that lets one apply downward tension on a boom, countering the upward tension provided by the mainsail. The boom vang adds an element of control to mainsail shape when the mainsheet is let out enough that it no longer pulls the boom down. Boom vang tension helps control leech twist, a primary component of sail power.
Boomkin - Short spar extend from the stern of a boat used to anchor the backstay or sheets from the mizzen sail. Occasionally refered to as Bumpkin
Buoy - A floating object of defined shape and color, which is anchored at a given position and serves as an aid to navigation.
Bow - The front end of a boat.
Bowline - A type of knot, producing a strong loop of a fixed size. You should practice tying this knot until you can do it easily.
Bowsprit - A spar projecting from the bow used as an anchor for the forestay and other rigging.
Breakers - Waves that have entered a shallow water, and built up on height. By doing this they "break" at the crest producing a curled up formation.
Bulkhead- An upright wall within the hull of a ship. usually a load bearing wall.
Bulwark - The extension of the ship's side above the level of the deck.
Canoe stern - A design for the stern of a yacht which is pointed, like a bow, rather than squared off as a transom.
Cardinal - Referring to the four main points of the compass: north, south, east and west.
Careening- Cause the ship to tilt on its side, usually to clean or repair the hull below the water line.
Catamaran - A vessel with two hulls.
Catboat - A cat-rigged vessel with only one sail, usually on a gaff.
Centerboard - A pivoting board lowered through the hull of a boat on the centerline to resist leeway.
Centerboard Trunk - A compartment where the centerboard resides.
Centerline - The center of the boat: from the stern to the bow. Also refered to as the “Lubber Line”
Chafing - Wear on line or sail caused by rubbing against another surface.
Chafing gear - Material applied to a line or spar to prevent or reduce chafing.
Chart - A nautical map.
Chine- The intersection between the side and bottom of a boat. A hard chine has a sharp angle - a soft chine is rounded.
Chock - any of various heavy metal fittings on a deck or wharf that serve as fairleads for cables or chains sheets or lines.
Cleat - A fitting for securing a line. It can be wooden, metal or nylon.
Clew - An aft corner of a triangular sail.
Close-hauled - Of a vessel beating as close to the wind direction as possible.
Coaming - The raised edge of a hatch or cockpit to help keep out water.
Cockpit - The boat area from where the crew operates the boat. Some boats have a center cockpit - most have a cockpit aft.
Coming about - Turning the boat so that the wind is on the opposite side of the sails by passing the bow of the boat through the direction from which the wind is blowing
Companionway - A raised hatchway in a vessel’s deck, with a ladder leading below; also the hooded entrance-hatch to the main cabins.
Cringle - A rope loop, usually at the corners of a sail, for fixing the sail to a spar. They are often reinforced with a metal eye.
Cuddy - A small cabin in a boat.
Cunningham - A line used to control the shape of a sail.
Daggerboard - A type of centerboard that is lifted vertically; often used in pairs.
’Davy Jones Locker - A reference to “the bottom of the sea.”
Daybeacon - An unlighted fixed structure which is equipped with a dayboard for daytime identification.
Deadrise - The design angle between the keel and horizontal.
Dog watch - A short watch period, generally half the usual time (e.g. a two hour watch between two four hour ones). Such a watch might be included in order to slowly rotate the system over several days for fairness, or to allow both watches to eat their meals at approximately normal times.
Dolphin - A structure consisting of a number of piles driven into the seabed or riverbed in a circular pattern and drawn together with wire rope.
Downhaul - A line used to control either a mobile spar, or the shape of a sail.
Draft - The depth of a vessel's keel below the waterline. It is important to know this dimension and compare it with the depth of the water. Once the draft exceeds the water depth, the vessel is no longer afloat. See Aground.
Abaft the beam - Further aft than the beam: a relative bearing of greater than 90 degrees from the bow: "two points abaft the port beam" (A point is about 11 ¼ degree - 2 points would be 22 ½ degrees.)
Abandon Ship - An order to leave the vessel immediately, usually in the face of some imminent danger. The passengers and crew must use life boats, life rafts or lifejackets when abandoning ship.
Abeam - At right angles to the centerline of a boat. Sometimes used in reference to the relative position of another object, as in “We are abeam of the Thomas Point Lighthouse.”
Adrift - Floating without control - except by wind and current.
Aft - At or toward the stern <http://www.sailfree.com/Terminology/terminol.htm> of a boat.
Aground - A boat resting on or touching sea bottom.
Ahead - Forward of the bow.
Ahoy - Word used to attract attention or hail another vessels attention.
Ahull - A vessel being driven by wind and waves. Not to be confused with adrift, ahull, as in “lying ahull” is sometimes done intentionally, lowering all sails to wait out a storm.
Alee - The side of a boat opposite to the source of the wind
Amidships - The middle area of a boat.
Anchor - An object designed to prevent or slow the drift of a ship, attached to the ship by a line or chain; typically a metal, hook-like or plough-like object designed to grip the bottom under the body of water.
Anchor ball - Round black shape hoisted in the forepart of a vessel to show that it is anchored. Used in other than a designated anchorage.
Anchor buoy - A small buoy secured by a light line to anchor to indicate position of anchor on bottom.
Anchor chain or anchor cable - Chain connecting a vessel to its anchor.
Anchor light - White light displayed by a ship at anchor. Two such lights are displayed by a ship over 150 feet in length.
Anchorage - A suitable place for a ship to anchor, often designated on a nautical chart
Apparent wind - The combination of the true wind and the wind caused by the boat's own speed. This is the wind felt on the boat, as well as the one shown by the telltales
Aspect ratio - Concerns sails - the ratio of height to the length. A narrow but tall sail has a high aspect ratio, and a wide but shorter sail has a low aspect ratio.
Astern - Toward the boat's stern
Athwartship - At right angles to the centerline of the boat.
Autopilot - A device - may be electronic or mechanical - used for keeping the boat on course without having to steer it. It uses a compass or a G.P.S. for guidance and is attached to the boat's steering mechanism.
Back a sail - To hold a sail in such a way, that the wind will fill it from the opposite to usual side. This maneuver is used to slow down the boat (as if applying brakes), or to force a boat to tack when in irons.
Backing wind - A change in wind direction running counterclockwise, as in from west to southwest, and then south.
Backstay - A rigging wire used to keep the mast from moving forward, as well as to vary the amount of bend in the mast.
Backwinded - If your sails are filled with the wind on the opposite side to what you want (for example, if they are trimmed for the starboard tack, but you get the wind from the port side), you are said to be backwinded.
Baggywrinkle - A soft covering for cables (or any other obstructions) that prevents sail chafing from occurring.
Bail - To get rid of water accumulated in the boat.
Ballast - A very heavy material, such as lead or iron, placed in the keel of the boat, or in the bilge. It is used to provide stability.
Bare poles - In a very strong wind it is possible to be propelled by the force of the wind on only the mast and the boom. To sail in such a way is called "bare poles".
Battens - Thin strips of wood or plastic inserted into batten pockets used to stiffen the leech (to preserve the shape of the sail).
Beam - The widest part of a boat.
Beam ends - The sides of a ship. "On her beam ends" may mean the vessel is literally on her side and possibly about to capsize; more often, the phrase means the vessel is listing 45 degrees or more.
Bearing - A direction an object is relative to the observer. This can be an "absolute bearing" with compass directions - (for instance, bearing 30 degrees true) or "relative bearing" such as “2 points abaft of port beam”.
Beating - Sailing closer to the wind than about about 60° (see also reaching, running and tacking).
Beaufort scale - The scale describing wind force in which winds are graded by the effect of their force. Learn More about it by clicking here.
Belay - to secure a line, for instance to a cleat or bitt; also, to cause to stop.
Belaying pins - Bars of iron or hard wood to which running rigging may be secured, or belayed.
Bend - A knot used to join two ropes or lines. Also see hitch.
Berth - A bed on a boat, or a space in a port or harbor where a boat may be tied up.
Bilge - The bilge is the compartment at the bottom of the hull of a ship or boat where water collects so that it may be pumped out of the vessel at a later time.
Bilge keels - A pair of keels on either side of the hull, usually slanted outwards. In yachts, they allow the use of a drying mooring, the boat left standing on the keels as the tide goes out.
Bimini - Weather-resistant fabric stretched over a metal frame, fastened above the cockpit of a sailboat or flybridge of a powerboat which serves as a rain or sun shade.
Binnacle - The stand on which a vessel’s compass is mounted.
Bitt - A post mounted on the ship's bow, for fastening ropes or cables.
Bitter end - The anchor cable is tied to the bitts, when the cable is fully paid out, the bitter end has been reached. Also, the last part of a rope or cable.
Block - A pulley. Often with more than one wheel (sheave being the proper name) to increase its mechanical advantage.
Boatswain (pronounced bosun) - A non-commissioned officer responsible for the sails, ropes and boats on a ship who issues "piped" commands to seamen. This definition is here only because the term “bosun’s chair” is often used aboard sailboats. A bosun’s chair attached to a hlayrd is what a crew member sits in when he climbs up the mast.
Bobstay - A stay which holds the bowsprit (or boomkin) downwards, counteracting the effect of the forestay (or backstay). Usually made of wire or chain to eliminate stretch.
Bollard - A substantial vertical pillar to which lines may be made fast. Generally on the pier rather than the ship.
Boltrope - A reinforcing rope along the luff or the foot of the sail, it is slid into a slot along the edge of a spar.
Boom- A spar (a wooden or metal pole) attached to the mast at approximately a right angle, used to support the foot of a sail.
Boom vang or vang - A sail control that lets one apply downward tension on a boom, countering the upward tension provided by the mainsail. The boom vang adds an element of control to mainsail shape when the mainsheet is let out enough that it no longer pulls the boom down. Boom vang tension helps control leech twist, a primary component of sail power.
Boomkin - Short spar extend from the stern of a boat used to anchor the backstay or sheets from the mizzen sail. Occasionally refered to as Bumpkin
Buoy - A floating object of defined shape and color, which is anchored at a given position and serves as an aid to navigation.
Bow - The front end of a boat.
Bowline - A type of knot, producing a strong loop of a fixed size. You should practice tying this knot until you can do it easily.
Bowsprit - A spar projecting from the bow used as an anchor for the forestay and other rigging.
Breakers - Waves that have entered a shallow water, and built up on height. By doing this they "break" at the crest producing a curled up formation.
Bulkhead- An upright wall within the hull of a ship. usually a load bearing wall.
Bulwark - The extension of the ship's side above the level of the deck.
Canoe stern - A design for the stern of a yacht which is pointed, like a bow, rather than squared off as a transom.
Cardinal - Referring to the four main points of the compass: north, south, east and west.
Careening- Cause the ship to tilt on its side, usually to clean or repair the hull below the water line.
Catamaran - A vessel with two hulls.
Catboat - A cat-rigged vessel with only one sail, usually on a gaff.
Centerboard - A pivoting board lowered through the hull of a boat on the centerline to resist leeway.
Centerboard Trunk - A compartment where the centerboard resides.
Centerline - The center of the boat: from the stern to the bow. Also refered to as the “Lubber Line”
Chafing - Wear on line or sail caused by rubbing against another surface.
Chafing gear - Material applied to a line or spar to prevent or reduce chafing.
Chart - A nautical map.
Chine- The intersection between the side and bottom of a boat. A hard chine has a sharp angle - a soft chine is rounded.
Chock - any of various heavy metal fittings on a deck or wharf that serve as fairleads for cables or chains sheets or lines.
Cleat - A fitting for securing a line. It can be wooden, metal or nylon.
Clew - An aft corner of a triangular sail.
Close-hauled - Of a vessel beating as close to the wind direction as possible.
Coaming - The raised edge of a hatch or cockpit to help keep out water.
Cockpit - The boat area from where the crew operates the boat. Some boats have a center cockpit - most have a cockpit aft.
Coming about - Turning the boat so that the wind is on the opposite side of the sails by passing the bow of the boat through the direction from which the wind is blowing
Companionway - A raised hatchway in a vessel’s deck, with a ladder leading below; also the hooded entrance-hatch to the main cabins.
Cringle - A rope loop, usually at the corners of a sail, for fixing the sail to a spar. They are often reinforced with a metal eye.
Cuddy - A small cabin in a boat.
Cunningham - A line used to control the shape of a sail.
Daggerboard - A type of centerboard that is lifted vertically; often used in pairs.
’Davy Jones Locker - A reference to “the bottom of the sea.”
Daybeacon - An unlighted fixed structure which is equipped with a dayboard for daytime identification.
Deadrise - The design angle between the keel and horizontal.
Dog watch - A short watch period, generally half the usual time (e.g. a two hour watch between two four hour ones). Such a watch might be included in order to slowly rotate the system over several days for fairness, or to allow both watches to eat their meals at approximately normal times.
Dolphin - A structure consisting of a number of piles driven into the seabed or riverbed in a circular pattern and drawn together with wire rope.
Downhaul - A line used to control either a mobile spar, or the shape of a sail.
Draft - The depth of a vessel's keel below the waterline. It is important to know this dimension and compare it with the depth of the water. Once the draft exceeds the water depth, the vessel is no longer afloat. See Aground.
If you're new to boating, you're going to find that learning all the nautical words can be daunting.
We have attempted to make it a little easier by giving you here an abridged glossary of nautical nomenclature. We have not included all of the older words used on tall ships, but we have included most of the words you will hear aboard a modern sailing vessel.
The most common words we have underlined for you. Spend some time learning these, and at least become somewhat familiar with the rest of them and you'll soon sound salty or at the very least, you'll know what the Captain is talking about when he asks you to release the starboard jib sheet from the winch so you can prepare to come about.
You may wonder, "How is this going to save me money?" The cheapest way to enjoy boating is on other people's boats. If you speak the language, you're well on your way to knowing what you're doing. If you know what you're doing, you're sure to be invited back.
We have attempted to make it a little easier by giving you here an abridged glossary of nautical nomenclature. We have not included all of the older words used on tall ships, but we have included most of the words you will hear aboard a modern sailing vessel.
The most common words we have underlined for you. Spend some time learning these, and at least become somewhat familiar with the rest of them and you'll soon sound salty or at the very least, you'll know what the Captain is talking about when he asks you to release the starboard jib sheet from the winch so you can prepare to come about.
You may wonder, "How is this going to save me money?" The cheapest way to enjoy boating is on other people's boats. If you speak the language, you're well on your way to knowing what you're doing. If you know what you're doing, you're sure to be invited back.
CQR - A type of plow anchor
Baggywrinkles - those fuzzy things attached to the line next to the sail.
Traditional Style Binnacle
Fairlead - A device such as block (pulley) or chock which rigging is passed to hold it in place or guide it while preventing it from snagging or chafing.
Fast - Fastened or held firmly (fast aground: stuck on the seabed; made fast: tied securely).
Fathom - A unit of length equal to 6 feet.
Fender - An air or foam filled bumper used in boating to keep boats from banging into docks or each other.
Fetch - The distance over which a wind blows unimpeded or the distance traveled by waves with no obstruction.
First Mate - The Second in command of a ship.
Flare - A device that produces a bright light for signaling.
Flotsam - Debris or cargo that remains afloat after a shipwreck. See also jetsam.
Fluke - The wedge-shaped part of an anchor's arms that digs into the bottom.
Flybridge - The highest navigational bridge on a vessel; a small (often open) deck above the pilot house.
Foil - An attachment on the forestay, comprising a groove into which the luff of the jib can be fed.
Following sea - Wave or tidal movement going in the same direction as a ship. See Pooped.
Foot - The bottom edge of the sail - the one attached to the boom.
Force - See Beaufort scale.
Fore, foreward (pronounced "for'ard") - Towards the bow (of the vessel).
Foresail - A foresail is the sail (such as a jib) located immediately in front of the main mast. It is attached to the forestay. Not to be confused with “For Sale.” A sign found on many boats indicating that it is no longer a suitable vessel for the current owner. It is usually found attached to the forward remorse with several regrets and bemoanings.
Forestay (sometimes called a jibstay, or a headstay) - A cable supporting the mast, running from the bow to the top of the mast.
Foul - Entangled or twisted. Not to be confused with fowl - a biological device designed to make small white discolorations on docks or decks, or worse, in your rum glass.
Founder - To fill with water and sink
Freeboard - The height of a ship's hull (excluding superstructure) above the waterline. The vertical distance from the current waterline to the lowest point on the highest continuous watertight deck. This usually varies from one part to another.
Furl - To roll or gather a sail against its mast or spar.
Gaff - A spar that supports the top of a sail.
Gaff rigged - A boat rigged with a four-sided fore-and-aft sail mounted on an upper spar or gaff which extends aft from the mast.
Galley - the kitchen of the ship
Genoa - A large jib, strongly overlapping the mainmast.
Ghost - To sail slowly when there is apparently no wind.
Gibe - See gybe.
Give-way vessel A boat that has to stay clear of the right-of-way, or stand-on boat.
Global Positioning System - (GPS) A satellite based radio navigation system providing continuous worldwide coverage. It provides navigation, position, and timing information to air, marine, and land users.
Going about or tacking - Changing from one tack to another by going through the wind (see also gybe). When ready to go about the helmsman or skipper calls "Ready about", the crew then each call "Ready!", and as the turn is made the helmsman calls "Lee oh!" or “Hard alee.” In the U.S. it is more common to hear the term "Coming About."
Gooseneck - Fitting that attaches the boom to the mast, allowing it to move freely.
Grog - Watered-down pusser's rum consisting of half a gill with equal part of water, issued to all seamen over twenty. From the British Admiral Vernon who, in 1740, ordered the men's ration of rum to be watered down. He was called "Old Grogram" because he often wore a grogram coat), and the watered rum came to be called 'grog'. Often used (illegally) as currency in exchange for favors in quantities prescribed as 'sippers' and 'gulpers'. Additional issues of grog were made on the command 'splice the mainbrace' for celebrations or as a reward for performing especially onerous duties. A sailor might repay a colleague for a favor by giving him part or all of his grog ration, ranging from "sippers" (a small amount) via "gulpers" (a larger quantity) to "grounders" (the entire tot).
Grounding - When a ship (while afloat) touches the bed of the sea, or goes "aground"
Gunwale - (pronounced "gunnle") - Upper edge of the hull.
Gybe - (Pronounced jibe - rhymes with tribe) - To change from one tack to the other away from the wind, with the stern of the vessel turning through the wind. When ready to go about the helmsman or skipper calls "Ready to gybe", or “Prepare to gybe”, the crew then each call "Ready!", and as the turn is made the helmsman calls "Gybe oh!". A gybe may also happen accidentally when sailing downwind. WARNING TO NEWBIES: The boom may swing violently from one side of the boat to the other, especially in an accidental jibe.
Halyard - A line used to raise things on a boat, for example "the main halyard" is the line used to raise the mainsail. It is a part of running rigging.
Hank - A fastener attached to the luff of the headsail that attaches the headsail to the forestay. Typical designs include a bronze or plastic hook with a spring-operated gate, or a strip of cloth webbing with a snap fastener.
Harbor - A harbor or haven, is a place where ships may shelter from the weather or are stored. Harbors can be man-made or natural.
Harden up - Turn towards the wind; sail closer to the wind.
Hatch - A small opening with a "door" on deck , allowing entry or at least air flow under the deck.
Hawse-hole - A hole in a ship's bow for a cable or chain, such as for an anchor, to pass through.
Head - The toilet or latrine of a vessel. Or the top part of a triangular sail.
Headsail - Any sail flown in front of the most forward mast.
Heaving to - Stopping a sailing vessel by lashing the helm in opposition to the sails. The vessel will gradually drift to leeward, the speed of the drift depending on the vessel's design.
Heeling - Heeling is the lean caused by the wind's force on the sails of a sailing vessel.
Helm - The wheel or tiller along with other mechanical controls of the vessel.
Helmsman - A person who steers a ship.
Hitch - A knot used to tie a rope or line to a fixed object. Also see bend.
Horn - A sound signal which uses electricity or compressed air to vibrate a disc diaphragm.
Hull - The shell and framework of the basic flotation-oriented part of a ship
Fast - Fastened or held firmly (fast aground: stuck on the seabed; made fast: tied securely).
Fathom - A unit of length equal to 6 feet.
Fender - An air or foam filled bumper used in boating to keep boats from banging into docks or each other.
Fetch - The distance over which a wind blows unimpeded or the distance traveled by waves with no obstruction.
First Mate - The Second in command of a ship.
Flare - A device that produces a bright light for signaling.
Flotsam - Debris or cargo that remains afloat after a shipwreck. See also jetsam.
Fluke - The wedge-shaped part of an anchor's arms that digs into the bottom.
Flybridge - The highest navigational bridge on a vessel; a small (often open) deck above the pilot house.
Foil - An attachment on the forestay, comprising a groove into which the luff of the jib can be fed.
Following sea - Wave or tidal movement going in the same direction as a ship. See Pooped.
Foot - The bottom edge of the sail - the one attached to the boom.
Force - See Beaufort scale.
Fore, foreward (pronounced "for'ard") - Towards the bow (of the vessel).
Foresail - A foresail is the sail (such as a jib) located immediately in front of the main mast. It is attached to the forestay. Not to be confused with “For Sale.” A sign found on many boats indicating that it is no longer a suitable vessel for the current owner. It is usually found attached to the forward remorse with several regrets and bemoanings.
Forestay (sometimes called a jibstay, or a headstay) - A cable supporting the mast, running from the bow to the top of the mast.
Foul - Entangled or twisted. Not to be confused with fowl - a biological device designed to make small white discolorations on docks or decks, or worse, in your rum glass.
Founder - To fill with water and sink
Freeboard - The height of a ship's hull (excluding superstructure) above the waterline. The vertical distance from the current waterline to the lowest point on the highest continuous watertight deck. This usually varies from one part to another.
Furl - To roll or gather a sail against its mast or spar.
Gaff - A spar that supports the top of a sail.
Gaff rigged - A boat rigged with a four-sided fore-and-aft sail mounted on an upper spar or gaff which extends aft from the mast.
Galley - the kitchen of the ship
Genoa - A large jib, strongly overlapping the mainmast.
Ghost - To sail slowly when there is apparently no wind.
Gibe - See gybe.
Give-way vessel A boat that has to stay clear of the right-of-way, or stand-on boat.
Global Positioning System - (GPS) A satellite based radio navigation system providing continuous worldwide coverage. It provides navigation, position, and timing information to air, marine, and land users.
Going about or tacking - Changing from one tack to another by going through the wind (see also gybe). When ready to go about the helmsman or skipper calls "Ready about", the crew then each call "Ready!", and as the turn is made the helmsman calls "Lee oh!" or “Hard alee.” In the U.S. it is more common to hear the term "Coming About."
Gooseneck - Fitting that attaches the boom to the mast, allowing it to move freely.
Grog - Watered-down pusser's rum consisting of half a gill with equal part of water, issued to all seamen over twenty. From the British Admiral Vernon who, in 1740, ordered the men's ration of rum to be watered down. He was called "Old Grogram" because he often wore a grogram coat), and the watered rum came to be called 'grog'. Often used (illegally) as currency in exchange for favors in quantities prescribed as 'sippers' and 'gulpers'. Additional issues of grog were made on the command 'splice the mainbrace' for celebrations or as a reward for performing especially onerous duties. A sailor might repay a colleague for a favor by giving him part or all of his grog ration, ranging from "sippers" (a small amount) via "gulpers" (a larger quantity) to "grounders" (the entire tot).
Grounding - When a ship (while afloat) touches the bed of the sea, or goes "aground"
Gunwale - (pronounced "gunnle") - Upper edge of the hull.
Gybe - (Pronounced jibe - rhymes with tribe) - To change from one tack to the other away from the wind, with the stern of the vessel turning through the wind. When ready to go about the helmsman or skipper calls "Ready to gybe", or “Prepare to gybe”, the crew then each call "Ready!", and as the turn is made the helmsman calls "Gybe oh!". A gybe may also happen accidentally when sailing downwind. WARNING TO NEWBIES: The boom may swing violently from one side of the boat to the other, especially in an accidental jibe.
Halyard - A line used to raise things on a boat, for example "the main halyard" is the line used to raise the mainsail. It is a part of running rigging.
Hank - A fastener attached to the luff of the headsail that attaches the headsail to the forestay. Typical designs include a bronze or plastic hook with a spring-operated gate, or a strip of cloth webbing with a snap fastener.
Harbor - A harbor or haven, is a place where ships may shelter from the weather or are stored. Harbors can be man-made or natural.
Harden up - Turn towards the wind; sail closer to the wind.
Hatch - A small opening with a "door" on deck , allowing entry or at least air flow under the deck.
Hawse-hole - A hole in a ship's bow for a cable or chain, such as for an anchor, to pass through.
Head - The toilet or latrine of a vessel. Or the top part of a triangular sail.
Headsail - Any sail flown in front of the most forward mast.
Heaving to - Stopping a sailing vessel by lashing the helm in opposition to the sails. The vessel will gradually drift to leeward, the speed of the drift depending on the vessel's design.
Heeling - Heeling is the lean caused by the wind's force on the sails of a sailing vessel.
Helm - The wheel or tiller along with other mechanical controls of the vessel.
Helmsman - A person who steers a ship.
Hitch - A knot used to tie a rope or line to a fixed object. Also see bend.
Horn - A sound signal which uses electricity or compressed air to vibrate a disc diaphragm.
Hull - The shell and framework of the basic flotation-oriented part of a ship
In Irons - When the bow of a sailboat is headed into the wind and the boat has stalled and is unable to maneuver.
Jacklines or jack stays - Lines, often steel wire with a plastic jacket, from the bow to the stern on both port and starboard. The Jack Lines are used to clip on the safety harness to secure the crew to the vessel while giving them the freedom to walk on the deck.
Jetsam - Debris ejected from a ship that sinks or washes ashore. See also flotsam.
Jib - A triangular staysail at the front of a ship.
Jibboom - A spar used to extend the bowsprit.
Jibe - See gybe.
Jibsheet - The line used to pull the jib in or let it out.
Keel - A weighted extension of a boat running below it that prevents the boat from sliding sideways. Also, the central structural basis of the hull.
Kite - Sometimes used to indicate spinnaker.
Knot - A nautical term for speed: one nautical mile per hour. Also a term indicating a method of tying a line.
Land lubber - A person unfamiliar with being on the sea.
Lanyard - A rope that ties something off.
Lash - To tie something using a light rope.
Lateral system - A system of aids to navigation in which characteristics of buoys and beacons indicate the sides of the channel or route relative to a conventional direction of buoyage (usually upstream).
Lazarette - Small stowage locker at the aft end of a boat.
Lee shore - A shore downwind of a ship. A ship which cannot sail well to windward risks being blown onto a lee shore and grounded.
Lee side - The side of a ship sheltered from the wind.
Leech - The aft edge of the triangular sail - the one that's not attached to anything.
Leeward - (pronounced loo'ard) In the direction toward which the wind is blowing.
Leeway - The amount that a ship is blown leeward by the wind.
Lifebelt, lifejacket, life preserver or Mae West - a device such as a buoyant ring or inflatable jacket which keeps a person afloat in the water.
Liferaft - An inflatable, covered raft, used in the event of a vessel being abandoned.
Line - the correct nautical term for the majority of the cordage or "ropes" used on a vessel. A line will always have a more specific name, such as jib halyard, which describes its use.
List - The vessel's angle of lean or tilt to one side, in the direction called roll. Also, a record of all of the projects that the owner someday intends to get done on his boat. He is kidding himself.
Loose footed - A mainsail that is not connected to a boom along its foot.
Lubber's line - A vertical line inside a compass case indicating the direction of the ship's head.
Luff - The forward edge of a sail.
Luff up - To luff up means to bring the boat's bow so close to the wind, that the leech of the sail begins to flap.
Lying ahull - Waiting out a storm by dousing all sails and simply letting the boat drift.
Jacklines or jack stays - Lines, often steel wire with a plastic jacket, from the bow to the stern on both port and starboard. The Jack Lines are used to clip on the safety harness to secure the crew to the vessel while giving them the freedom to walk on the deck.
Jetsam - Debris ejected from a ship that sinks or washes ashore. See also flotsam.
Jib - A triangular staysail at the front of a ship.
Jibboom - A spar used to extend the bowsprit.
Jibe - See gybe.
Jibsheet - The line used to pull the jib in or let it out.
Keel - A weighted extension of a boat running below it that prevents the boat from sliding sideways. Also, the central structural basis of the hull.
Kite - Sometimes used to indicate spinnaker.
Knot - A nautical term for speed: one nautical mile per hour. Also a term indicating a method of tying a line.
Land lubber - A person unfamiliar with being on the sea.
Lanyard - A rope that ties something off.
Lash - To tie something using a light rope.
Lateral system - A system of aids to navigation in which characteristics of buoys and beacons indicate the sides of the channel or route relative to a conventional direction of buoyage (usually upstream).
Lazarette - Small stowage locker at the aft end of a boat.
Lee shore - A shore downwind of a ship. A ship which cannot sail well to windward risks being blown onto a lee shore and grounded.
Lee side - The side of a ship sheltered from the wind.
Leech - The aft edge of the triangular sail - the one that's not attached to anything.
Leeward - (pronounced loo'ard) In the direction toward which the wind is blowing.
Leeway - The amount that a ship is blown leeward by the wind.
Lifebelt, lifejacket, life preserver or Mae West - a device such as a buoyant ring or inflatable jacket which keeps a person afloat in the water.
Liferaft - An inflatable, covered raft, used in the event of a vessel being abandoned.
Line - the correct nautical term for the majority of the cordage or "ropes" used on a vessel. A line will always have a more specific name, such as jib halyard, which describes its use.
List - The vessel's angle of lean or tilt to one side, in the direction called roll. Also, a record of all of the projects that the owner someday intends to get done on his boat. He is kidding himself.
Loose footed - A mainsail that is not connected to a boom along its foot.
Lubber's line - A vertical line inside a compass case indicating the direction of the ship's head.
Luff - The forward edge of a sail.
Luff up - To luff up means to bring the boat's bow so close to the wind, that the leech of the sail begins to flap.
Lying ahull - Waiting out a storm by dousing all sails and simply letting the boat drift.
Magnetic bearing - An absolute bearing using magnetic north.
Magnetic north - The direction towards the magnetic north pole. Varies slowly over time.
Mainmast (or Main) - The tallest mast on a ship.
Mainsail - The largest sail. (Except for the spinnaker.)
Mainsheet - The line used to pull the mainsail in or let it out.
Marconi rig - Another term for bermudan rig. The mainsail is triangular, rigged fore-and-aft with the lead edge fixed to the mast. Refers to the similarity of the tall mast to a radio aerial.
Marina - a docking facility for small ships and yachts.
Mast - A vertical pole on a ship which supports sails or rigging.
Masthead - The top of the mast.
Mizzen - The sail set on the second (aftermost, or rear) mast - as on a ketch.
Mizzen staysail - Sail on a ketch or yawl , usually lightweight, set from, and forward of, the mizzen mast while reaching in light to moderate air.
Monkey fist - a ball woven out of line used to provide heft to heave the line to another location. The monkey fist and other heaving-line knots were sometimes weighted with lead.
Moor - to attach a boat to a mooring buoy or post. Also, to a dock a vessel.
Mooring - Permanent anchorage. It consists of a heavy weight (or an anchor), a chain of a certain length, and a buoy.
Nautical almanac - A book containing all current data: navigational, tidal, astronomical and so on, published annually.
Navigation rules - Rules of the road that provide guidance on how to avoid collision and also used to assign blame when a collision does occur. Also known as ColRegs (Collision Regulations)
Outhaul - A device located on the aft part of the boom , used to secure the clew , so that the foot is kept tense.
Overhead - Inside a boat, what, on land, would be called the "ceiling;" essentially, the bottom of the deck above you.
Pier - Usually a wooden structure (although it may be built from other materials) built over the water, used by boats for landing. Also called a “dock.”
Piling - A thick post supporting or mooring a dock or pier. It is deep inside the seabed, and it projects above the water level.
Pitch - A vessel's motion causing the fore and aft ends to rise and fall repetitively.
Pitchpole - To capsize a boat end over end, rather than by rolling over.
Pooped - to take a wave over the stern
Port - Towards the left-hand side of a boat (facing forward.)
Port Side - The boat's left side.
Port tack - When sailing with the wind coming from the port side of the vessel. Must give way to boats on starboard tack. When on a port tack, the sails are on the starboard side of a boat. During a sailboat race you will often hear an aggravated team yell, “STARBOARD” when they have ‘right-of-way’ over a boat which is not giving up their position.
Porthole or port - an opening in a ship's side, hinged to open for admitting light and air, fitted with thick glass or clear plastic.
Preventer (gybe preventer, jibe preventer) - A sail control line originating at some point on the boom leading to a fixed point on the boat's deck or rail (usually a cleat or pad eye) used to prevent or moderate the effects of an accidental jibe.
Propeller walk or, more commonly, prop walk - tendency for a propeller to push the stern sideways. A right hand propeller in reverse will walk the stern to port. This tendency can be used in lining up a single propped boat when maneuvering to enter his slip.
Radar - Acronym for RAdio Detection And Ranging. An electronic system designed to transmit radio signals and receive reflected images of those signals from a "target" in order to determine the bearing and distance to the "target".
Radar reflector - A special fixture fitted to a vessel or incorporated into the design of certain aids to navigation to enhance their ability to reflect radar energy. In theory, these fixtures will materially improve the visibility for use by vessels with radar.
Range - The distance between two objects (horizontally).
Range lights - Two lights associated to form a range (a line formed by the extension of a line connecting two charted points) which often, but not necessarily, indicates the channel centerline. The front range light is the lower of the two, and nearer to the mariner using the range. The rear light is higher and further from the mariner.
Ratlines - Rope ladders permanently rigged between stays.
Reaching - Sailing across the wind: from about 60° to about 160° off the wind. Reaching consists of "close reaching" (about 60° to 80°), "beam reaching" (about 90°) and "broad reaching" (about 120° to 160°). See also beating and running.
Ready about - A call to indicate imminent tacking (see going about or coming about)
Reef - (verb) to shorten sail usually by lashing a lower section of the sail to the boom. (Noun) a ridge of rock, sand, coral, etc., the top of which lies close to the sea’s surface
Reef points - Small lengths of cord attached to a sail, used to secure the excess fabric after reefing.
Relative bearing - A bearing relative to the direction of the ship: the clockwise angle between the ship's direction and an object. See also "absolute bearing" and "bearing".
Rigging - The system of masts and lines on ships and other sailing vessels.
Rode - A chain or rope (or combination of these) used to secure a boat’s anchor to the boat.
Roll - A vessel's motion rotating from side to side, about the fore-aft/longitudinal axis.
Rudder - underwater, movable plate beneath the stern of a boat used for steering, controlled by the helmsman with a tiller or a steering wheel.
Running before the wind or running - Sailing more than about about 160° away from the wind. If directly away from the wind, it's a dead run.
Running rigging - Rigging used to manipulate sails, spars, etc. in order to control the movement of the ship.
Magnetic north - The direction towards the magnetic north pole. Varies slowly over time.
Mainmast (or Main) - The tallest mast on a ship.
Mainsail - The largest sail. (Except for the spinnaker.)
Mainsheet - The line used to pull the mainsail in or let it out.
Marconi rig - Another term for bermudan rig. The mainsail is triangular, rigged fore-and-aft with the lead edge fixed to the mast. Refers to the similarity of the tall mast to a radio aerial.
Marina - a docking facility for small ships and yachts.
Mast - A vertical pole on a ship which supports sails or rigging.
Masthead - The top of the mast.
Mizzen - The sail set on the second (aftermost, or rear) mast - as on a ketch.
Mizzen staysail - Sail on a ketch or yawl , usually lightweight, set from, and forward of, the mizzen mast while reaching in light to moderate air.
Monkey fist - a ball woven out of line used to provide heft to heave the line to another location. The monkey fist and other heaving-line knots were sometimes weighted with lead.
Moor - to attach a boat to a mooring buoy or post. Also, to a dock a vessel.
Mooring - Permanent anchorage. It consists of a heavy weight (or an anchor), a chain of a certain length, and a buoy.
Nautical almanac - A book containing all current data: navigational, tidal, astronomical and so on, published annually.
Navigation rules - Rules of the road that provide guidance on how to avoid collision and also used to assign blame when a collision does occur. Also known as ColRegs (Collision Regulations)
Outhaul - A device located on the aft part of the boom , used to secure the clew , so that the foot is kept tense.
Overhead - Inside a boat, what, on land, would be called the "ceiling;" essentially, the bottom of the deck above you.
Pier - Usually a wooden structure (although it may be built from other materials) built over the water, used by boats for landing. Also called a “dock.”
Piling - A thick post supporting or mooring a dock or pier. It is deep inside the seabed, and it projects above the water level.
Pitch - A vessel's motion causing the fore and aft ends to rise and fall repetitively.
Pitchpole - To capsize a boat end over end, rather than by rolling over.
Pooped - to take a wave over the stern
Port - Towards the left-hand side of a boat (facing forward.)
Port Side - The boat's left side.
Port tack - When sailing with the wind coming from the port side of the vessel. Must give way to boats on starboard tack. When on a port tack, the sails are on the starboard side of a boat. During a sailboat race you will often hear an aggravated team yell, “STARBOARD” when they have ‘right-of-way’ over a boat which is not giving up their position.
Porthole or port - an opening in a ship's side, hinged to open for admitting light and air, fitted with thick glass or clear plastic.
Preventer (gybe preventer, jibe preventer) - A sail control line originating at some point on the boom leading to a fixed point on the boat's deck or rail (usually a cleat or pad eye) used to prevent or moderate the effects of an accidental jibe.
Propeller walk or, more commonly, prop walk - tendency for a propeller to push the stern sideways. A right hand propeller in reverse will walk the stern to port. This tendency can be used in lining up a single propped boat when maneuvering to enter his slip.
Radar - Acronym for RAdio Detection And Ranging. An electronic system designed to transmit radio signals and receive reflected images of those signals from a "target" in order to determine the bearing and distance to the "target".
Radar reflector - A special fixture fitted to a vessel or incorporated into the design of certain aids to navigation to enhance their ability to reflect radar energy. In theory, these fixtures will materially improve the visibility for use by vessels with radar.
Range - The distance between two objects (horizontally).
Range lights - Two lights associated to form a range (a line formed by the extension of a line connecting two charted points) which often, but not necessarily, indicates the channel centerline. The front range light is the lower of the two, and nearer to the mariner using the range. The rear light is higher and further from the mariner.
Ratlines - Rope ladders permanently rigged between stays.
Reaching - Sailing across the wind: from about 60° to about 160° off the wind. Reaching consists of "close reaching" (about 60° to 80°), "beam reaching" (about 90°) and "broad reaching" (about 120° to 160°). See also beating and running.
Ready about - A call to indicate imminent tacking (see going about or coming about)
Reef - (verb) to shorten sail usually by lashing a lower section of the sail to the boom. (Noun) a ridge of rock, sand, coral, etc., the top of which lies close to the sea’s surface
Reef points - Small lengths of cord attached to a sail, used to secure the excess fabric after reefing.
Relative bearing - A bearing relative to the direction of the ship: the clockwise angle between the ship's direction and an object. See also "absolute bearing" and "bearing".
Rigging - The system of masts and lines on ships and other sailing vessels.
Rode - A chain or rope (or combination of these) used to secure a boat’s anchor to the boat.
Roll - A vessel's motion rotating from side to side, about the fore-aft/longitudinal axis.
Rudder - underwater, movable plate beneath the stern of a boat used for steering, controlled by the helmsman with a tiller or a steering wheel.
Running before the wind or running - Sailing more than about about 160° away from the wind. If directly away from the wind, it's a dead run.
Running rigging - Rigging used to manipulate sails, spars, etc. in order to control the movement of the ship.
Sail-plan - A set of drawings showing various sail combinations recommended for use in various situations.
Sampson post - A strong vertical post used to support a ship's windlass and the heel of a ship's bowsprit.
Scope - the length of the anchor line - from the boat to the anchor.
Scuppers - Openings in toerails or drains in decks used to channel water from waves or rain off of the deck.
Sea anchor - A stabilizer deployed in the water for heaving to in heavy weather. It acts as a brake and keeps the hull in line with the wind and perpendicular to waves.
Seacock- a valve in the hull of a boat.
Sextant - Navagational instrument used to measure a ship's latitude and longitude.
Shackle - Part of the indispensable equipment on the boat. It is a small device used for attaching lines to other things, like sails.
Sheer - The upward curve of a vessel's longitudinal lines as viewed from the side.
Sheet - A line used to trim sails.
Ship's bell - Striking the ship's bell is the traditional method of marking time and regulating the crew's watches. Also used as a warning of a vessel’s presence in fog.
Shoal - Shallow water that is a hazard to navigation.
Shoal draft - a vessel with shallow draft, capable of sailing in unusually shallow water.
Shoaling - A phenomenon occurring as the waves enter a shallow water - their movement forward is slowed down because of the bottom friction, and thus their height increases.
Shroud - The wires holding the mast at the sides.
Skeg - A downward or sternward projection from the keel in front of the rudder. Protects the rudder from damage, and in bilge keelers may provide one "leg" of a tripod on which the boat stands when the tide is out.
Skipper - The Captain of a ship.
Sounding - Measuring the depth of the water.
Spar - A general name for all masts, booms, gaffs, and bowsprits.
Spinnaker - A large sail flown in front of the vessel while heading downwind.
Spinnaker pole - A spar used to help control a spinnaker or other headsail.
Splice - To join lines (ropes, cables etc.) by unravelling their ends and intertwining them to form a continuous line. To form an eye or a knot by splicing.
Splice the Mainbrace- Have a drink (see History of this phrase here)
Spreaders - The wooden or metal struts that are attached horizontally to the upper section of the mast, on both sides. They widen the angle of the shrouds, and thus provide a better support for the mast.
Stanchion - vertical post near a deck's edge that supports life-lines. A timber fitted in between the frame heads on a wooden hull or a bracket on a steel vessel, approx one meter high, to support the bulwark plank or plating and the rail.
Standing rigging - Rigging which is used to support masts and spars, and is not normally manipulated during normal operations. See running rigging.
Stand-on vessel - A boat that has the right-of-way over the give-way vessel. It must maintain its course and speed unless a collision is imminent.
Starboard - Towards the right-hand side of a vessel facing forward. Denoted with a green light at night.
Starboard Side - The boat's right side.
Starboard tack - When sailing with the wind coming from the starboard side of the vessel. Has right of way over boats on port tack. A vessel on a starboard tack has its sails on the port side.
Stays - Wires supporting the mast - fore and aft .
Staysail - A sail whose luff is attached to a forestay.
Stem - The extension of keel at the forward end of a ship.
Stern - The back of the boat.
Stopper knot - A knot tied in the end of a rope, usually to stop it passing through a hole; most commonly a figure-of-eight knot.
Surf - A continuous line of breakers at the shore.
Swinging the compass - Measuring the accuracy in a ship's magnetic compass so its readings can be adjusted - often by turning the ship and taking bearings on reference points.
Tabernacle - A large bracket attached firmly to the deck, to which the foot of the mast is fixed. It has two sides or cheeks and a bolt forming the pivot around which the mast is raised and lowered.
Tack - (verb) to come about (see coming about.) (noun) the fore corner of a triangular sail.
Tack hook - A snap used to hold the tack of the jib at the bow, while the sail is raised.
Tack pin - A pin used to secure the tack of a triangular sail at the mast.
Tacking - see coming about
Taffrail - A rail at the stern of the boat that covers the head of the counter timbers.
Telltales - Short pieces of yarn attached to the shrouds, or the sails. At the shrouds they indicate the direction of the apparent wind , and on the sails they help to check the air flow over the sail, so that proper trimming is easier.
The Ensign - A flag indicating nationality of the vessel.
Tiller - A spar attached to the rudder by the rudder head , used to control the direction of the boat. Another possibility for steering mechanism is a steering wheel.
Toe-rail - A low strip running around the edge of the deck like a low bulwark. It may be shortened or have gaps (scuppers) in it to allow water to flow off the deck.
Topsides - the part of the hull between the waterline and the deck.
Traffic Separation Scheme - Shipping corridors marked by buoys which separate incoming from outgoing vessels.
Trampoline - The space on a catamaran, usually made of some kind of mesh, located between the two hulls . It's a place for the crew (like a cockpit on dinghies and cruisers).
Transom - a more or less flat surface across the stern of a vessel. Dinghies tend to have almost vertical transoms, whereas yachts’ transoms may be raked forward or aft.
Traveler - A track (usually metal) with a fixture sliding on it. The fixture holds the main sheet (usually), and the sliding allows for changing angles of the sail.
True bearing - An absolute bearing using true north.
True north - The direction of the geographical North Pole.
True wind - The strength and direction of the actual wind blowing. While sailing, the true wind is never felt - it is always a combination of the true wind, and the boat's speed (called the apparent wind ), and it is always a little forward of the true wind.
Trysail - A very small sail, used in a very heavy weather instead of a mainsail.
Tumblehome - A description of hull shape when viewed from directly in front or from directly behind, where the widest part of the hull is someway below deck level.
Turn - A knot passing behind or around an object.
Under way - A vessel that is moving under control.
Vang - see boom vang
Watch - A period of time during which a part of the crew is on duty. Changes of watch are marked by strokes on the ship's bell.
Waypoint - A location defined by navigational coordinates, especially as part of a planned route.
Weigh anchor - To heave up (an anchor) preparatory to sailing.
White horses or whitecaps - Foam or spray on wave tops caused by stronger winds (usually above Force 4).
Winch - A mechanical device used to assist in pulling on lines. It is a reel-like part of the hardware.
Windage - Wind resistance of the boat.
Windlass - A winch mechanism, most commonly used in raising the anchor.
Windward - The direction from which the wind is blowing.
Yaw - A vessel's rotational motion about the vertical axis, causing the fore and aft ends to swing from side to side repetitively.
Yawl - A two-masted sailboat, the aft mast (the mizzenmast) is shorter than the forward (the main mast.) The mizzenmast is located behind the rudder post - otherwise it is a ketch.
Zephyr - A gentle, warm breeze.
Sampson post - A strong vertical post used to support a ship's windlass and the heel of a ship's bowsprit.
Scope - the length of the anchor line - from the boat to the anchor.
Scuppers - Openings in toerails or drains in decks used to channel water from waves or rain off of the deck.
Sea anchor - A stabilizer deployed in the water for heaving to in heavy weather. It acts as a brake and keeps the hull in line with the wind and perpendicular to waves.
Seacock- a valve in the hull of a boat.
Sextant - Navagational instrument used to measure a ship's latitude and longitude.
Shackle - Part of the indispensable equipment on the boat. It is a small device used for attaching lines to other things, like sails.
Sheer - The upward curve of a vessel's longitudinal lines as viewed from the side.
Sheet - A line used to trim sails.
Ship's bell - Striking the ship's bell is the traditional method of marking time and regulating the crew's watches. Also used as a warning of a vessel’s presence in fog.
Shoal - Shallow water that is a hazard to navigation.
Shoal draft - a vessel with shallow draft, capable of sailing in unusually shallow water.
Shoaling - A phenomenon occurring as the waves enter a shallow water - their movement forward is slowed down because of the bottom friction, and thus their height increases.
Shroud - The wires holding the mast at the sides.
Skeg - A downward or sternward projection from the keel in front of the rudder. Protects the rudder from damage, and in bilge keelers may provide one "leg" of a tripod on which the boat stands when the tide is out.
Skipper - The Captain of a ship.
Sounding - Measuring the depth of the water.
Spar - A general name for all masts, booms, gaffs, and bowsprits.
Spinnaker - A large sail flown in front of the vessel while heading downwind.
Spinnaker pole - A spar used to help control a spinnaker or other headsail.
Splice - To join lines (ropes, cables etc.) by unravelling their ends and intertwining them to form a continuous line. To form an eye or a knot by splicing.
Splice the Mainbrace- Have a drink (see History of this phrase here)
Spreaders - The wooden or metal struts that are attached horizontally to the upper section of the mast, on both sides. They widen the angle of the shrouds, and thus provide a better support for the mast.
Stanchion - vertical post near a deck's edge that supports life-lines. A timber fitted in between the frame heads on a wooden hull or a bracket on a steel vessel, approx one meter high, to support the bulwark plank or plating and the rail.
Standing rigging - Rigging which is used to support masts and spars, and is not normally manipulated during normal operations. See running rigging.
Stand-on vessel - A boat that has the right-of-way over the give-way vessel. It must maintain its course and speed unless a collision is imminent.
Starboard - Towards the right-hand side of a vessel facing forward. Denoted with a green light at night.
Starboard Side - The boat's right side.
Starboard tack - When sailing with the wind coming from the starboard side of the vessel. Has right of way over boats on port tack. A vessel on a starboard tack has its sails on the port side.
Stays - Wires supporting the mast - fore and aft .
Staysail - A sail whose luff is attached to a forestay.
Stem - The extension of keel at the forward end of a ship.
Stern - The back of the boat.
Stopper knot - A knot tied in the end of a rope, usually to stop it passing through a hole; most commonly a figure-of-eight knot.
Surf - A continuous line of breakers at the shore.
Swinging the compass - Measuring the accuracy in a ship's magnetic compass so its readings can be adjusted - often by turning the ship and taking bearings on reference points.
Tabernacle - A large bracket attached firmly to the deck, to which the foot of the mast is fixed. It has two sides or cheeks and a bolt forming the pivot around which the mast is raised and lowered.
Tack - (verb) to come about (see coming about.) (noun) the fore corner of a triangular sail.
Tack hook - A snap used to hold the tack of the jib at the bow, while the sail is raised.
Tack pin - A pin used to secure the tack of a triangular sail at the mast.
Tacking - see coming about
Taffrail - A rail at the stern of the boat that covers the head of the counter timbers.
Telltales - Short pieces of yarn attached to the shrouds, or the sails. At the shrouds they indicate the direction of the apparent wind , and on the sails they help to check the air flow over the sail, so that proper trimming is easier.
The Ensign - A flag indicating nationality of the vessel.
Tiller - A spar attached to the rudder by the rudder head , used to control the direction of the boat. Another possibility for steering mechanism is a steering wheel.
Toe-rail - A low strip running around the edge of the deck like a low bulwark. It may be shortened or have gaps (scuppers) in it to allow water to flow off the deck.
Topsides - the part of the hull between the waterline and the deck.
Traffic Separation Scheme - Shipping corridors marked by buoys which separate incoming from outgoing vessels.
Trampoline - The space on a catamaran, usually made of some kind of mesh, located between the two hulls . It's a place for the crew (like a cockpit on dinghies and cruisers).
Transom - a more or less flat surface across the stern of a vessel. Dinghies tend to have almost vertical transoms, whereas yachts’ transoms may be raked forward or aft.
Traveler - A track (usually metal) with a fixture sliding on it. The fixture holds the main sheet (usually), and the sliding allows for changing angles of the sail.
True bearing - An absolute bearing using true north.
True north - The direction of the geographical North Pole.
True wind - The strength and direction of the actual wind blowing. While sailing, the true wind is never felt - it is always a combination of the true wind, and the boat's speed (called the apparent wind ), and it is always a little forward of the true wind.
Trysail - A very small sail, used in a very heavy weather instead of a mainsail.
Tumblehome - A description of hull shape when viewed from directly in front or from directly behind, where the widest part of the hull is someway below deck level.
Turn - A knot passing behind or around an object.
Under way - A vessel that is moving under control.
Vang - see boom vang
Watch - A period of time during which a part of the crew is on duty. Changes of watch are marked by strokes on the ship's bell.
Waypoint - A location defined by navigational coordinates, especially as part of a planned route.
Weigh anchor - To heave up (an anchor) preparatory to sailing.
White horses or whitecaps - Foam or spray on wave tops caused by stronger winds (usually above Force 4).
Winch - A mechanical device used to assist in pulling on lines. It is a reel-like part of the hardware.
Windage - Wind resistance of the boat.
Windlass - A winch mechanism, most commonly used in raising the anchor.
Windward - The direction from which the wind is blowing.
Yaw - A vessel's rotational motion about the vertical axis, causing the fore and aft ends to swing from side to side repetitively.
Yawl - A two-masted sailboat, the aft mast (the mizzenmast) is shorter than the forward (the main mast.) The mizzenmast is located behind the rudder post - otherwise it is a ketch.
Zephyr - A gentle, warm breeze.
Monkeyfist
Climbing the Ratlines
A Nautical Glossary
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Notice: While we make every effort to ensure that the information provided on this website is accurate, we can not be held responsible for any mishaps which may occur as a result of your using information found in this website without verification through other, more authoritative sources such as the U.S. Coast Guard. |
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Saltwater Suzi and Cap'n Larry's "Boating on a Budget"
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