The Sailor’s Quick Glossary: 50 Essential Terms
New to sailing? From parts of the boat and points of sail to basic manoeuvres and racing terminology, here are 50 essential terms every sailor should know.
Port: The left-hand side of a boat when facing forward.
Starboard: The right-hand side of a boat when facing forward.
Bow: The front section of a boat.
Stern: The rear section of a boat.
Deck: The upper surface of a boat where the crew moves and works.
Cockpit: The open area, usually towards the stern, where the crew operates the boat.
Keel: The main structural element beneath the hull, also helping provide stability and resist sideways movement.
Centerboard: A retractable underwater foil used primarily on dinghies to reduce sideways drift.
Rudder: The underwater steering surface used to change the boat’s direction.
Tiller: The lever used to control the rudder.
Mast: The vertical structure that supports the sails.
Boom: The horizontal spar attached to the mast that supports the lower edge of the mainsail.
Mainsail: The principal sail set behind the mast.
Genoa: A large headsail set forward of the mast, generally larger than a standard jib.
Jib: A triangular headsail set forward of the mast.
Spinnaker: A large, lightweight sail designed for sailing with the wind coming from behind or at wider angles.
Asymmetric Spinnaker: A downwind sail with an asymmetric shape, commonly used for reaching and downwind sailing.
Halyard: A line used to hoist and lower a sail.
Sheet: A line used to control the angle of a sail relative to the wind.
Trim: The adjustment of sails and related controls to achieve the best performance for the conditions.
Windward: The direction or side from which the wind is coming.
Leeward: The direction or side towards which the wind is blowing.
Close-Hauled: Sailing as close to the direction of the wind as the boat can efficiently sail.
Beam Reach: Sailing with the wind coming approximately from the side of the boat.
Broad Reach: Sailing with the wind coming from behind the side of the boat.
Running: Sailing with the wind coming predominantly from behind the boat.
Tack: A manoeuvre in which the bow passes through the wind to change from one tack to the other.
Gybe (Jibe): A manoeuvre in which the stern passes through the wind when changing tack downwind.
Port Tack: Sailing with the wind coming over the port side of the boat.
Starboard Tack: Sailing with the wind coming over the starboard side of the boat.
Head Up: To steer the boat closer towards the direction from which the wind is coming.
Bear Away: To steer the boat away from the direction from which the wind is coming.
Alongside: The position of a boat lying side-by-side with a dock, quay, or another vessel.
Capsize: When a sailing boat overturns or rolls onto its side beyond its normal sailing position.
Buoy: A floating marker used to identify racing marks, navigation points, or designated areas on the water.
Course: The route competitors are required to sail during a race.
Starting Line: The defined line that boats must cross to begin a race.
Finish Line: The defined line that boats cross to complete a race.
Starting Sequence: The series of visual and sound signals used to count down to the start of a sailing race.
OCS (On Course Side): A boat that is on the course side of the starting line at its starting signal.
Protest: A formal claim that another boat has broken a racing rule.
Penalty Turn: A turn or series of turns taken by a boat to accept a penalty for certain rule infringements.
IRC: An international rating system that allows different types and sizes of yachts to compete fairly using corrected time.
TCC (Time Corrector): The rating coefficient shown on an IRC certificate and used to calculate corrected time.
Corrected Time: A boat’s elapsed time adjusted using its rating coefficient for scoring purposes.
Elapsed Time: The actual amount of time a boat takes to sail from the start to the finish.
Line Honours: The distinction awarded to the first boat to cross the finish line, regardless of corrected time.
Skipper: The person responsible for the overall command and operation of the boat.
Helmsman: The crew member steering the boat. The helmsman and skipper are not necessarily the same person.
Tactician: The crew member who evaluates wind, current, competitors, and the course to help determine racing strategy.