GLOSSARY OF SAILING TERMS
PAGE
Member:
a part of the skeleton of the
hull, such as a
stringer
laminated into
fiberglass hull to strengthen it.
Meridian:
an imaginary line encircling
the Earth that passes through the
poles and cuts at right angles through
the Equator. All lines of longitude are
meridians.
Mizzen:
1, the shorter, after-mast on a
ketch
or
yawl
; 2, the fore and aft sail
set on this mast.
N
Navel pipe:
a metal pipe in the fore-
deck through which the anchor chain
passes to the locker below.
Noon Sight:
a vessel’s latitude can
be found, using a sextant, when a
heavenly body on the observer’s
me-
ridian
is at its greatest altitude. The
sight of the sun at noon is the one
most frequently taken.
O
Off the wind:
with the sheets slacked
off, not
close-hauled.
On the wind:
close-hauled
.
Out haul:
a rope used to pull out the
foot of a sail.
Overall length (OAL):
the boat’s ex-
treme length, measured from the
foremost past of the bow to the after-
most part of the stern, excluding bow-
spirt, self-steering gear etc.
P
Painter:
the bow line by which a din-
ghy, or
tender,
is towed or made fast.
Pintle:
a rudder fitting with a long pin
that fits into the
gudgeon
to form a
hinged pivot for the rudder.
Pitch:
1, the up and down motion of
the bows of a boat plunging over the
waves; 2, the angle of the propeller
blades.
Point of sailing:
the different angles
from which a boat may sail; the boat’s
course
relative to the direction of the
wind.
Port:
the left-hand side of the boat,
looking forward (opp. of
starboard
).
Port tack:
a boat is on a port tack
when the wind strikes the port side
first and the mainsail is out to
star-
board.
A boat on the port tack gives
way to a boat on a starboard tack.
Position line/ Line of position:
a line
drawn on a chart, as a result of taking
a bearing, along which the boat’s posi-
tion must be, i.e. two position lines
give a fix.
Pulpit:
a metal
guard rail
fitted at
the
bows of a boat to provide safety for
the crew.
Pushpit:
a metal
guard rail
fitted at
the stern.
Q
Quarter:
the portion of the boat mid-
way between the stern and the beam;
on the quarter means about 45 de-
grees
abaft
the beam.
R
Rake:
the fore and aft deviation from
the perpendicular of a mast or other
feature of a boat.
Range:
1, see
transit;
2, of tides, the
difference between the high and low
water levels of a tide; 3, the distance
at which a light can be seen.
Rating:
a method of measuring cer-
tain dimensions of a yacht to enable it
to take part in handicap races.
Reach:
to sail with the wind approxi-
mately on the
beam
; all sailing points
between running and
close-hauled
.
Reef:
to reduce the sail area by fold-
ing or rolling surplus material on the
boom or
forestay
.
Reefing pennant:
strong line with
which the
luff
or leech
cringle
is pulled
down to the
boom
when reefing.
Rhumb line:
a line cutting all
meridi-
ans
at the same angle; the
course
fol-
lowed by a boat sailing in a fixed di-
rection.
Riding light to anchor light:
an all-
around white light, usually hoisted on
the forestay, to show that a boat under
50 ft. (15m.)is at anchor. It must be
visible for 2 mls. (3 km.).
Rigging screw:
a deck fitting with
which the tensions of standing rigging,
e.g. stays, shrouds, etc. are adjusted.
Roach:
the curved part of the
leech
of
a sail that extends beyond the direct
line from head to
clew.
Run:
to run with the wind
aft
and with
the
sheets
eased well out.
Running rigging:
all the moving
lines, such as
sheets
and
halyards
,
used in the
setting
and
trimming
of
sails.
S
Scope:
the length of rope or cable
paid out when mor anchoring.
Scuppers:
1, holes in the toe rail that
allow water to drain off the deck; 2,
drain cockpit through hull.
Seacock:
a valve that shuts off an
underwater inlet or outlet passing
through the hull.
Seize:
to bind two ropes together, or a
rope to a
spar
, with a light line.
Serve:
to cover and protect a
splice
or
part of a rope with twine bound tightly
against the lay.
Serving mallet:
tool with a grooved
head, used when serving a rope to
keep the twine at a constant and high
tension.
Set:
1, to hoist a sail; 2, the way in
which the sails fit; 3, the direction of
tidal current or steam.
Shackle:
a metal link with a remov-
able bolt across the end; of various
shapes: D, U.
Sheave:
a grooved wheel in a
block
or
spar
for a rope to run on.
Sheet:
the rope attached to the
clew
of a sail or to the boom, enabling it to
be controlled or
trimmed
.
Shrouds:
ropes or wires, usually in
pairs, led from the mast to the
chain
plates
at deck level to prevent the
mast falling sideways; part of the
standing rigging.
Sloop:
a single-masted sailing boat
with a mainsail and one head sail.
Spar:
a general term for any wooden
or metal pole, e.g., mast or boom,
used to carry or give shape to sails.
Spindrift:
spray blown along the sur-
face of the sea.
Spinnaker:
a large, light, balloon
shaped sail set when
reaching
or
run-
ning.
Splice:
to join ropes or wire by unlay-
ing the strands and interweaving
them.
Split pin:
see
cotter pin.
Spreaders:
horizontal struts attached
to the mast, which extends to the
shrouds
and help to support the mast.
6
Summary of Contents for 2006 H46
Page 27: ...Power Squadron recommendations for maintenance and safe boating PAGE 11A 11...
Page 28: ...Local sailing club or marina s recommendations for maintenance and up keep PAGE 11A 12...
Page 30: ...Spare parts list PAGE 11A 14...
Page 31: ...Dates of practice drills and onboard safety inspections PAGE 11A 15...
Page 32: ...MY PERSONAL PREFERENCES FOR MAINTENANCE ITEMS SAFETY GEAR PAGE 11A 16...
Page 46: ......
Page 57: ......
Page 58: ......
Page 59: ......
Page 60: ......
Page 62: ......
Page 63: ......
Page 64: ......
Page 69: ......
Page 70: ......
Page 71: ......
Page 72: ......
Page 73: ......
Page 74: ......
Page 75: ......
Page 76: ......
Page 77: ......
Page 78: ......
Page 79: ......
Page 80: ......
Page 81: ......
Page 82: ......
Page 83: ......
Page 84: ......
Page 85: ......
Page 86: ......
Page 87: ......
Page 88: ......
Page 89: ......
Page 90: ......
Page 91: ......
Page 92: ......
Page 93: ......
Page 94: ......
Page 98: ......
Page 99: ......
Page 100: ......
Page 101: ......
Page 102: ......
Page 103: ......
Page 104: ......
Page 107: ......
Page 110: ......
Page 111: ......
Page 112: ......
Page 113: ......
Page 114: ......
Page 115: ......
Page 116: ......
Page 117: ......
Page 118: ......
Page 119: ......
Page 120: ......
Page 121: ......
Page 122: ......
Page 123: ......
Page 124: ......
Page 125: ......
Page 126: ......
Page 127: ......
Page 128: ......
Page 129: ......
Page 130: ......
Page 131: ......
Page 132: ......
Page 133: ......
Page 134: ......
Page 135: ......
Page 136: ......
Page 137: ......
Page 138: ......
Page 139: ......
Page 140: ......
Page 141: ......
Page 142: ......
Page 143: ......
Page 144: ......
Page 147: ......
Page 148: ......
Page 151: ......
Page 152: ......
Page 153: ......
Page 154: ......
Page 155: ......
Page 156: ......
Page 158: ......
Page 159: ......
Page 160: ......
Page 161: ......
Page 162: ......
Page 163: ......
Page 164: ......
Page 165: ......
Page 166: ......
Page 167: ......
Page 168: ......
Page 169: ......
Page 170: ......
Page 171: ......
Page 172: ......
Page 173: ......
Page 174: ......
Page 175: ......
Page 176: ......
Page 177: ......
Page 178: ......
Page 179: ......
Page 180: ......
Page 181: ......
Page 182: ......
Page 183: ......
Page 184: ......
Page 185: ......
Page 186: ......
Page 187: ......
Page 188: ......
Page 189: ......
Page 190: ......
Page 191: ......
Page 192: ......
Page 193: ......
Page 194: ......
Page 195: ......
Page 196: ......
Page 197: ......
Page 198: ......
Page 205: ......
Page 206: ......
Page 207: ......
Page 208: ......
Page 209: ......