|
Glossary ABAFT-Astern of; behind; at the rear of; toward the stern. ABEAM-At right angles to the keel. ADRIFT-Loose from moorings. AFT-Toward or near the stern. ASTERN-To the rear or behind. BACK-To back a sail is to pull it to the windward side of the vessel.� The wind is said� to back when its direction shifts in a counterclockwise direction; it is the opposite of veer. BACKWIND-When the wind hits the ordinarily leeward side of a sail. BATTEN DOWN-To secure or to make watertight. BEAM-The point of a vessel's greatest breadth. BEAM ENDS-A boat is said to be on its beam ends when it is knocked over onto its side. BEAT-To sail to windward; tack. BEND-To bend on sails is to attach them to the vessel, before hoisting, so they are ready for use. BILGE-The inside of a vessel near the keel where water may collect. BLOCK-A pulley; a frame enclosing one or more sheaves or rollers over which lines are run. BOOM-A spar at the foot of a fore-and-aft sail. BOOM CRUTCH (OR CRADLE OR CROTCH)-A prop that lifts the boom off the deck and holds it secure when it is not in use. BOW-Forward part of a boat. BROACH-A vessel broaches when it swings broadside to the wind and waves when running free. BULKHEAD-A partition or wall below decks. BUOY-A floating object anchored to show position. CENTERBOARD-A pivoted board-like device that can be lowered to provide lateral resistance to the water in shoal draft vessels. CLEW-Aftermost corner of a sail. COAMING-Raised protection around a cockpit. COCKPIT-Space within the coaming where the helmsman sits.� A self-bailing cockpit has drains to allow water to run out of it. COME ABOUT-To bring the boat from one tack to the other when sailing into the wind. DAGGERBOARD-KEEL-Heavy, board-like surface used to provide lateral resistance to the water, raised and lowered vertically. DEAD RECKONING-Determining a vessel's position by the course sailed and the distance covered. DINGHY-A small rowboat that sometimes is rigged with a sail.� Also called tender or dink. DOUSE-To take in or lower a sail. DRIFT-The leeway of a boat. DROGUE-A canvas bucket or conical-shaped device used to provide resistance in the water and slow a vessel or keep its bow pointed into the wind and waves. DYE MARKER-Capsule of dye used to color a patch of water to help searchers find a boat or person. EASE-To let out the sheet so as to relieve the pressure on the sail and possibly spill some wind. ENSIGN-A national flag flow on a boat. FEND-To push off. FOOT WELL-Central area of cockpit designed to accommodate helmsman's feet. FORE-In or toward the bow of a boat. FORE-AND-AFT-Parallel to the keel. FORESTAY-Wire used to support mast, leading to the bow. FREEBOARD-The distance from the top of the hull to the water. GAM-Visiting or conversation carried on between persons from separate ships at sea. GENOA-Large, overlapping jib.� Also called a genny. GHOST-To make headway when there is no apparent wind. GRAB RAIL-Railing, usually on cabin top, used as handhold. GREENWICH MEAN TIME-Time as measured at the meridian of Greenwich, England. GUDGEON-An eye fitting into which the rudder's pintles are inserted. GUNKHOLING-Shallow-water sailing and anchoring in out-of-the-way places. HALYARD-A line used to hoist a sail.� Also spelled halliard. HATCH-An opening in a deck with a cover. HEAD-The upper corner of a sail.� Also, a boat's toilet. HEAVE TO-To stop a vessel's progress by putting out a sea anchor or drogue, or hauling a headsail to windward. HEAVING LINE-Line with a weighted end to facilitate throwing it ashore or to another vessel. HEEL-The tilt, tip, listing or laying-over of a boat, usually due to the force of the wind. HELM-The tiller by which the rudder is controlled. HULL-The main body of a boat. IN IRONS-A boat in the wind's eye which, having lost all headway, will not go off on either tack. JIB-A triangular sail set forward of the mast. JIBE-When running, to bring the wind on the other quarter so that the boom swings over.� Also spelled gybe. JIB SHEET-The line leading from the lower aft end of the jib to the cockpit and by which the set of the jib is controlled. JIGGER-Another name for the mizzen or aft sail on a ketch or yawl.� Such a sail was improvised on Tinkerbelle to help her ride better to a sea anchor. KEEL-The backbone of a boat running fore-and-aft. KNOT-Measure of distance;� one nautical mile, 6,080 feet.� Measure of speed:� one nautical mile per hour. LAPSTRAKE-Overlapping plank of a boat. LAZARETTE-A stowage compartment in the stern. LEE SHORE-A shore on the side of the boat away from the wind. LEE SIDE-The side of the boat away from the wind. LEEWARD-In the direction away from the wind. LIFELINE-Line by which person is attached to boat. LINE-Nautical term for rope used for riggings, anchoring, tying up, etc. MAINSAIL OR MAINS'L-The large sail set abaft the mast. MAINSHEET-The line that controls the mainsail. MASTHEAD-Top of the mast. MOOR-To secure a vessel to an object such as a dock or buoy. PINTLE-Metal braces or hooks upon which the rudder of a boat swings. POINT-To sail as close as possible to the wind. PORT-Left side of a boat, facing toward the bow. PORT TACK-Boat sailing with the wind coming over the portside. QUARTER-The after part of a boat's side; that part of a craft which is within forty-five degrees from the stern, known as the port quarter or starboard quarter. RADAR REFLECTOR-Metallic contrivance which reflects radar beams. REACH-Points of sailing between running and pointing close-hauled.� Close reach, sailing nearly close-hauled.� Beam reach, sailing with the wind abeam.� Broad reach, sailing with the wind abaft the beam. REEF-To reduce sail area by partly lowering sail and securing the surplus material to the boom. RUBBING STRAKE-Outer plank of hull designed to protect hull from docks. RUB RAIL-Same as rubbing strake. RUNNING-Sailing before the wind. RUNNING LIGHTS-Lights carried by a vessel under way. SEA ANCHOR-A drag device (usually a conical canvas pocket held open by a metal hoop, but a canvas bucket in Tinkerbelle's case) used to keep the boat headed into the wind and waves while it is not under way, especially during heavy weather. SECURE-To make fast; to tie or lock into position. SELF-BAILING COCKPIT-A cockpit provided with drains to allow water washed into it to return to the sea. SEXTANT-Instrument used to determine the altitude of the sun or stars used in navigation. SHACKLE-A U-shaped piece of metal with a removable pin across the open end.� Shackles are attached to the ends of a boat's halyards and used to link the halyards to the heads of the sails for hoisting. SHEAVE-The wheel in a block or at the masthead. SHOAL-Shallow. SHROUD-Standing rigging, usually of stainless-steel wire, running from the mast to the sides of a boat to support the mast.� The masts' principal lateral stays. SLOOP-A sailing vessel with one mast and one sail (a jib) before the mast. SPAR-General term for masts, booms, whisker poles, etc. STANDING RIGGING-The shrouds and stays and other rigging not moved in working the boat. STARBOARD-The right side of a vessel, looking toward the bow. STARBOARD TACK-Sailing with the wind coming over the starboard side. STAY-Rigging, usually wire, used to support a mast. STEERAGEWAY-The amount of a forward movement necessary to make a vessel's rudder effective. STEM PLATE-The plate at the bow to which the jibstay (forestay) is attached. STERN-The after part of a boat. STIFF-A boat is said to be stiff when it is not easily heeled. STORM SAILS-Small sails of heavy canvas for use in heavy weather. STOW-To put away. SQUARE SAIL-A rectangular sail attached to a spar suspended at the middle from a mast. SWELL-The waves that continue after the wind that created them has changed in direction or vanished. SWING THE BOAT-To rotate the vessel to check the compass on known courses. TABERNACLE-A hinge at the base of a mast which allows the mast to be lowered easily. TACK-The lower forward corner of a sail.� Also, to sail to windward in a series of zigzags. TILLER-A bar connected with the rudderhead and by which the rudder is moved to steer the boat. TOPPING LIFT-A line attached at one end to the masthead and at the other to the aft end of the boom, which support the boom while the sail is being set. TROUGH-The valley between the peaks of successive waves. TRYSAIL-Small storm sail set in lieu of the mainsail. UNSHIP-To remove or detach. VEER-Wind shift in a clockwise direction. WAKE-The foamy path of disturbed water left behind a moving boat. WATERLINE-The line painted on a boat's side indicating the proper trim. WEATHER HELM-A sailboat in which the tiller must be pulled (usually only slightly) toward the wind to keep it on course. WEATHER SIDE-Windward side of a sailboat. WHISKER POLE-A light spar positioned between the mast and the clew of the jib to hold out the sail when running before the wind. WINDWARD-Toward the wind. |
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS | ABOUT THE AUTHOR |
|