Parts of Sail & Sailboat Sailing Glossary

Parts of a Sail, Sailboat

and Related Terms

Study the Parts of a Sailboat

Know Sailing Terminology

Understand Orientation Terms Become Familiar with Parts of a Sail Learn Purpose of Sail Controls

Prepare to be Knowledgeable Crew

May 2017

Sailing Singles of South Florida Sailing Orientation Session

Sailboat & Sail Parts, Orientation, Related Terms

Orientation Sailing Terms: Aft: Toward rear or stern of boat. About: Change from one tack to the other.

o Abeam: Direction 90 angle from boat. Bring To: Stopping boat by bringing her up Sailboat Parts into the wind. Beam: Boats maximum width. Boom: Hinged, horizontal pole supports bottom Furl: Roll up and secure a sail of mainsail. Bow: Front end of boat. In Irons: Stalled head to wind, cannot turn. Center Board: Swinging fin projects down into Draft: Distance water to boat bottom. the water, counteracts force of the sail. A Jibe: Change direction when wind aft, boom variation is a Daggerboard: slides up/down. Forward: Toward the bow. swings to opposite side; accidental jibe could be dangerous. Cockpit: Inside boat where crew sits. Leeward: Downwind side of boat. Port: Left side boat when facing forward. Ease Off: To slack away a line or head off Gooseneck: Hinged attachment at point where from the wind. boom meets mast. Starboard: Right side boat facing forward. Fall Off: To ease off from the wind. Gunwhale: Upper edge of boat. Stern: Backend of boat. Luffing: Airflow over sail surface disrupted, Hull: Body of boat. Windward: Upwind side of boat. Direction sail begins to flap. from which the wind is blowing. Keel: Fixed underwater appendage. Reach: Course made good sailing off wind. Sail Controls Lines: Pieces of rope on a boat. Reef: To reduce the area of a sail when Blocks: Pully, either line or wire. Mast: Vertical main pole supporting the sail. wind is too strong. Avoids sail/mast damage. Boom Vang: Rigging from boom to mast Rudder: Movable steering fin at back of boat. Slack: Lessen tension on a line, letting out. bottom, stops boom from lifting. Shrouds: Side wires supporting the mast. Sail Parts Car: Device Jib Sheet passes through on Battens: Slats in sail pockets on leech side Spreaders: A spar used to deflect shrouds way to cockpit. Moved forward/aft to adjust of sail, helps maintain sail shape. allowing them to better support the mast. angle that jibsheets pulls on jib sail. Clew: Back lower corner of a sail. Stays: Wires from high on mast to deck Cleats: Fittings used to secure lines. • Backstay: mast leading aft. Foot: Bottom edge of a sail. Halyards: Line or wire used to hoist sails. • Forestay: mast to foredeck. Head: Top of a sail. Outhaul: At backend of boom securing • Headstay: mast to bow, outermost stay. mainsail clew. Adjusts tension on the foot Jib: Foretriangular headsail.

Tiller: Steering arm that moves the rudder. of the sail. Leech: Back edge Luff: front edge of sail.

Winch: Geared drum for mechanical advantage Shackle: U-shaped metal fastner. Mainsail: Sail hoisted on after side of mast. when pulling lines under load. Turns clockwise. Traveler: Adjustable system upon which Tack(n): Front lower corner of a sail. the mainsheet blocks can slide.