Glossary
Bow: Front of the boat
Stern: Back of the boat
Fore: Forward
Aft: Rearward
Clew: Back lower corner of a sail
Tack: Forward lower corner of sail
Head: Top corner of sail
Luff: Forward edge of the sail
Foot: Bottom edge of the sail
Leech: Rear edge of the sail
Burgee: Wind direction indicator (usually a small flag)
Batten: A thin stiffening strip in the sail to support the leech
Mast: Main vertical spar supporting the rig/sails
Boom: Spar at the Bottom of the mainsail
Gennaker pole: the Pole, which extends to fly the gennaker tack from.
Cleat: A fitting used for holding /securing ropes
Forestay: The wire supporting the mast at the bow of the boat
Shrouds: Wires that hold mast in boat and supporting the mast from ¾ up and
out to hull side. Attached with shroud adjuster to shroud anchor point
Lower shrouds: Wires that tie off ¼ up mast and shackle to shroud anchor
points
Jib: Front sail
Sheet: Rope for controlling the inward/outward position of the sail
Gennaker: Isometric sail hoisted when sailing downwind
Gunwale: The outermost edge of the boat
Gudgeon: Fitting on the transom and rudder used to hang rudder
Cunningham: Purchase system for tightening the forward edge/luff of the sail
Gnav: Purchase system for tightening the rear edge/leach of the sail
Vang: Otherwise known as the Kicking strap, Gnav
Outhaul: Purchase system for tightening the bottom edge/foot of the sail
Halyard: A rope or wire used to lower or hoist sails
Mast Heel: Fitting on the bottom edge/foot of the mast
Mast step: Fitting on the boat where the mast heel/foot of the mast is located
Spreaders: Metal struts placed in pairs to support the mast side ways and
control the bend in the mast
Stem fitting: Stainless fitting at the bow which the forestay attaches
Rudder: Blade and attachments used for steering the boat
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