Hunter H31, Operator'S Manual

Page: 182 / 186

Hunter 31 • Glossary
15.2
A
Aback:
describes a sail when the wind strikes it on the
lee side.
Abaft:
towards the boat’s stern.
Abeam:
at right angles to the center-line of the boat.
Aft:
at or near the stern.
Amidships: the center of the boat, athwartships and fore
and aft.
Anti-fouling:
a poisonous paint compound used to pro-
tect the underwater part of a hull from marine growths.
Apparent wind: The direction and speed of the wind felt
by the crew. It is a combination of true wind and that
created by the movement of the boat.
Astern:
behind the boat; to go astern is to drive the
boat in reverse.
Athwartships:
at right angles to the fore and aft line of
the boat.
B
Back:
when a wind backs, it shifts anticlockwise.
Back a sail: to sheet it to windward so that the wind fills
on the side that is normally to leeward.
Backstay: a stay that supports the mast from aft and
prevents its forward movement.
Ballast:
extra weight, usually lead or iron, placed low in
the boat or externally on the keel to provide stability.
Ballast keel:
a mass of ballast bolted to the keel to
increase stability and prevent a keel boat from capsiz-
ing.
Batten:
a light, flexible strip fed into a batten pocket at
the leech of the sail to support the roach.
Beam:
1, the maximum breadth of a boat; 2, a trans-
verse member that supports the deck; 3, on the beam
means that an object is at right angles to the centerline.
Bear away:
to steer the boat away from the wind.
the direction of an object from an observer, measured
in degrees true or magnetic.
Beat:
to sail a zigzag course towards the wind, close-
hauled on alternate tacks.
Belay:
to make fast a rope around a cleat, usually with
a figure-of-eight knot.
Bend:
1, to secure a sail to a spar before hoisting; 2, to
moor a boat; 3, a sleeping place on board.
Bight:
a bend or loop in a rope.
Bilge:
the lower, round part inside the hull where the
water collects.
Block:
a pulley in a wooden or plastic case, consist-
ing of a sheave around which a rope runs. It is used to
change the direction of pull.
Boot-topping:
a narrow colored stripe painted between
the bottom paint and the topside enamel.
Bottlescrew:
see Rigging screw.
Broach:
when a boat running downwind slews broad-
side to the wind and heels dangerously. It is caused by
heavy following seas or helmsman’s error.
Broad reach:
the point of sailing between a beam reach
and a run, when the wind blows over a quarter.
Bulkhead:
a partition wall in a boat normally fitted
athwartships
C
Caulk:
to make the seams between wooden planks
watertight by filling with cotton, oakum or a compound.
Cavitation:
the formation of a vacuum around a propel-
ler, causing a loss in efficiency.
Center-board:
a board lowered through a slot in the
keel to reduce leeway.
Center-line:
center of the boat in a fore and aft line.
Center of effort (COE):
the point at which all the forces
acting on the sails are concentrated.
Center of lateral resistance (CLR):
the underwater
center of pressure about which a boat pivots when
changing course.
Chain pawl:
a short lug which drops into a toothed rack
to prevent the anchor chain running back.
Chain plate:
a metal plate bolted to the boat to which
the shrouds or backstays are attached.
Chart datum:
reference level on a chart below which
the tide is unlikely to fall. Soundings are given below
chart datum. The datum level varies according to coun-
try and area.
Chine:
the line where the bottom of the hull meets the
side at an angle.
Cleat:
a wooden, metal or plastic fitting around which
rope is secured.
Clevis pin:
a locking pin through which a split ring is
passed to prevent accidental withdraw.
Clew:
the after, lower center of a sail where the foot and
leech meet.
Close-hauled:
the point of sailing closest to the wind;
see also beat.
Close reach:
the point of sailing between close-hauled
and a beam reach, when the wind blows forward of the
beam.
Close-winded:
describes a boat able to sail very close
to the wind.
Coaming:
the raised structure surrounding a hatch,
cockpit, etc., which prevents water entering.
Cotter pin:
soft, metal pin folded back on itself to form
an eye.
Course:
the direction in which a vessel is steered, usu-
ally given in degrees; true, magnetic or compass.
Cringle:
1, a rope loop, found at either end of a line of
reef points; 2, an eye in a sail.
D