GLOSSARY OF SAILING TERMS
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Stall: a sail stalls when the airflow
over it breaks up, causing the boat to
lose way.
Stanchion: upright metal post bolted
to the deck to support guardrails or
lifelines.
Standing part: the part of a line not
used when making a knot; the part of
a rope that is made fast, or around
which the knot is tied.
Standing rigging: the shrouds and
stays that are permanently set up and
support the mast.
Starboard: right-hand side of a boat
looking forward (opp. of port).
Starboard tack: a boat is the star-
board tack when the wind strikes the
starboard side first and the boom is
out to the port.
Stay: wire or rope which supports the
mast in a fore and aft direction; part of
the standing rigging.
Steerage way: a boat has steerage
way when it has sufficient speed to al-
low it to be steered, or to answer the
helm.
Stem: the timer at the bow, from the
keel upward, to which the planking is
attached.
Sternway: the backward, stern-first
movement of a boat.
Stringer: a fore and aft member, fitted
to strengthen the frames.
T
Tack: 1, the lower forward corner of a
sail; 2, to turn the boat through the
wind so that it blows on the opposite
sides of the sails.
Tacking: working to windward by sail-
ing close-hauled on alternate courses
so that the wind is first on one side of
the boat, then on the other.
Tack pennant: a length of wire with
an eye in each end, used to raise the
tack of a headsail some distance off
the deck.
Tackle: a purchase system compris-
ing of rope and blocks that is used to
gain mechanical advantage.
Tang: a strong metal fitting by which
standing rigging is attached to the
mast or other spar.
Tender of dinghy: a small boat used
to ferry stores and people to a yacht.
Terminal fitting: fitting at the end of a
wire rope by which a shroud or stay
can be attached to the mast, a tang or
a rigging screw/ turnbuckle.
Tide: the vertical rise and fall of the
oceans caused by the gravitational at-
traction of the moon.
Toe rail: a low strip of metal or mold-
ing running around the edge of the
deck.
Topping lift: a line from the masthead
to a spar, normally the boom, which is
used to raise it.
Topsides: the part of a boat’s hull that
is above the waterline.
Track: 1, the course a boat has made
good; 2, a fitting on the mast or boom
into which the slides on a sail fit; 3, a
fitting along which a traveller runs,
used to alter the angle of the sheets.
Transit: two fixed objects are in tran-
sit when seen in line; two transit give
position fix.
Traveller: 1, a ring or hoop that can
be hauled along a spar; 2, a fitting that
slides in a track and is used to alter
the angle of the sheets.
Trim: 1, to adjust the angle of the
sails, by means of sheets, so that they
work most efficiently; 2, to adjust the
boat’s load, and thus the fore and aft
angle at which it floats.
True wind: the direction and speed of
the wind felt when stationary, at an-
chor or on land.
Turnbuckle: see Rigging screw.
U
Under way: a boat is under way when
it is not made fast to shore, at anchor
or aground.
Uphaul: a line used to raise some-
thing vertically, e.g., the spinnaker
pole.
V
Veer: 1, the wind veers when it shifts
in clockwise direction; 2, to pay out
anchor cable or rope in a gradual,
controlled way.
W
Wake: the disturbed water left astern
of a boat.
Waterline: the line along the hull at
which a boat floats.
Waterline length (WL): the length of
a boat from stem to stern at the water-
line. It governs the maximum speed of
displacement hull and effects a boats
rating.
Weather helm: ( opp. of lee helm).
Weather side: the side of a boat on
which the wind is blowing.
Wetted surface: the area of the hull
under water.
Whisker pole: a light pole used to
hold out the clew of a headsail when
running.
Winch: a mechanical device, consist-
ing usually of a metal drum turned by
a handle, around which a line is
wound to give the crew more purchas-
ing power when hauling taut a line,
e.g. a jib sheet.
Windage: those parts of a boat that
increase drag, e.g., rigging, spars,
crew, etc.
Windlass: a winch with a horizontal
shaft and a vertical handle, used to
haul up the anchor chain.
Windward: the direction from which
the wind blows; towards the wind
(opp. of leeward).
Y
Yawl: a two masted boat with a miz-
zen stepped aft of the rudder stock/
post.
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