Welcome aboard! Sailing has a language all of it’s own and getting familiar with the terms can feel like a lot at first. Here’s a guide to some essential sailing terms, we’ve put the most important ones in bold so it’s all plain sailing for you!

 

Aft: Towards the back of the boat.

 

Apparent Wind: The wind you feel on the boat, a combination of true wind and the boat’s movement. Like riding a bike and feeling the breeze.

 

Ballast: Weight placed in the boat to keep it stable. It’s like keeping the heavy stuff at the bottom of a backpack to keep it from tipping over.

 

Batten: Stiff strips inserted into sails to keep them flat and aerodynamic. They’re the support beams of the sail.

 

Beam: The widest part of the boat.

 

Abeam/ on the beam:  At a right angle to the boat’s length.

 

Bear Away: To turn the boat away from the wind. Like steering a bike downhill for an easier ride.

 

Bearing: The direction from your boat to a specific point.

 

Beat: Sailing upwind in a zigzag pattern. Picture yourself taking a zigzag path uphill to make it easier.

 

Berth: A place where the boat is docked or a bed on the boat. Your boat’s parking spot or sleeping quarters.

 

Bilge: The lowest part inside the boat’s hull where water collects. The boat’s basement.

 

Bow: The front of the boat. The boat’s nose, leading the way.

 

Broach: When the boat turns uncontrollably, often due to strong winds.

 

Broad Reach: Sailing with the wind coming from the side-rear. It’s like riding a bike with the wind pushing at a comfortable angle.

 

Chart Datum: The reference level for water depth on nautical charts. The baseline for measuring how deep the water is.

 

Cleat: A fitting on the boat where you tie ropes. It’s like a hook to keep your ropes in place.

 

Clew: The lower rear corner of a sail. Think of it as the sail’s back pocket.

 

Close Hauled: Sailing as close to the wind direction as possible. Like walking straight into the wind with a slight lean.

Close Reach: Sailing with the wind coming from the front-side. It’s like riding your bike with a side breeze nudging you forward.

Cockpit: The area where you steer and control the boat. The command centre!

 

Come About: To turn the bow of the boat through the wind to change direction. A boat’s version of doing a U-turn.

 

Downhaul: A rope used to pull a sail down. Like the string on a kite that brings it closer to the ground.

 

Draft: The depth of the boat's keel below the waterline. How deep your boat sits in the water, like its footprint.

Fender: A bumper used to protect the boat from damage when docking. Park like a pro and these will be redundant!

 

Forestay: A wire that supports the mast from the front. It’s like the boat’s front toothpick holding the mast steady.

Galley: The kitchen on a boat. Whip up the snacks and teas please.

Halyard: A rope used to hoist sails. The elevator cable for sails.

Head: The bathroom on a boat.

 

Helm: The wheel or tiller used to steer the boat.

Jib: A smaller sail in front of the mainsail.

Jibe (Gybe): To turn the stern of the boat through the wind to change direction.

 

Keel: The bottom fin of the boat that provides stability. The boat’s underwater balance beam.

 

Knot: A unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour. The boat’s version of miles per hour.

 

Leeward (Lee): The side of the boat away from the wind. The boat’s sheltered, calm side.

 

Luff: The front edge of a sail. The sail’s leading edge, catching the first whispers of wind.

 

Mainsail: The largest sail on the boat. The powerhouse of the sailing setup.

 

Mast: The tall vertical pole that supports the sails. The backbone of your boat’s rigging.

 

Port: The left side of the boat when facing forward.

Reef: To reduce the area of a sail when the wind picks up.

 

Rudder: A flat piece at the back of the boat used for steering. The boat’s underwater steering fin.

 

Sheet: A rope used to control the sails. The reins of a boat’s sail.

 

Spinnaker: A large, colourful sail used when sailing downwind. It’s the party sail.

 

Starboard: The right side of the boat when facing forward.

Tack: To turn the bow of the boat through the wind to change direction, OR the lower forward corner of a sail. So it can be either a sailing manoeuvre or a specific sail corner.

Transom: The flat part of the boat's stern. The boat’s squared-off back end.

Trim: To adjust the sails for optimal performance.

 

Underway: When the boat is moving through the water. The boat’s equivalent of being on the road.

 

Windward: The side of the boat facing the wind. The breezy, exposed side of the boat.

  

Now you can speak sailor like a pro.

Fair winds to you!