Hunter 31, Owner'S Manual, Page: 13 / 138

GLOSSARY OF SAILING TERMS
PAGE
6
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 (LOA): 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.