Hunter H31, Operator'S Manual

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Hunter 31 • Glossary
15.3
Dead run:
running with the wind blowing exactly aft, in
line with the center-line.
Deviation:
the difference between the direction indicat-
ed by the compass needle and the magnetic meridian;
caused by object aboard.
Displacement:
1, the weight of water displaced by a
boat is equal to the weight of the boat; 2, a displace-
ment hull is one that displaces its own weight in water
and is only supported by buoyancy, as opposed to a
planning hull which can exceed its hull, or displacement,
speed.
Downhaul:
a rope fitted to pull down a sail or spar.
Draft:
the vertical distance from the waterline to the low-
est point of the keel.
Drag:
1, an anchor drags when it fails to hole; 2, the
force of wind on the sails, or water on the hull, which
impedes the boat’s progress.
Drift:
1, to float with the current or wind; 2, US the
speed of a current (rate UK); 3, UK: the distance a boat
is carried by a current in a given time.
Drogue:
a sea anchor put over the stern of a boat or life
raft to retard drift.
Drop keel:
a retractable keel which can be drawn into
the hull, when entering shallow waters and recovering
on to a trailer.
E
Eye of the wind:
direction from which the true wind
blows.
F
Fair:
well-faired line or surface is smoother with no
bumps, hollows or abrupt changes in directions.
Fairlead:
a fitting through which a line is run to alter the
lead of the line.
Fathom:
the measurement used for depths of water and
lengths or rope. 1 fathom = 6 ft. or 1.83m.
Fid:
a tapered tool used for splicing heavy rope and for
sail-making, often hollow.
Fiddle:
a raised border for a cabin table, chart table
etc., to prevent objects falling off when the boat heels.
Fix:
the position of the vessel as plotted from two or
more position lines.
Forestay:
the foremost stay, running from the masthead
to the stemhead, to which the headsail is hanked.
Freeboard:
vertical distance between the waterline and
the top of the deck.
G
Genoa:
a large headsail, in various sizes, which over-
laps the mainsail and is hoisted in light to fresh winds on
all points of sailing.
Gimbals:
two concentric rings, pivoted at right angles,
which keeps objects horizontal despite the boat’s
motion, e. g. compass and cooker.
Go about:
to turn the boat through the eye of the wind
to change tack.
Gooseneck:
the fitting attaching the boom to the mast,
allowing it to move in all directions.
Goosewing:
to boom-out the headsail to windward on a
run by using a whisker pole to hold the sail on the oppo-
site side to the mainsail.
Ground tackle:
general term used for anchoring gear.
Guard rail:
a metal rail fitted around the boat to prevent
the crew falling overboard.
Gudgeon:
a rudder fitting. It is the eye into which the
pintle fits.
Guy:
a steadying rope for a spar; a spinnaker guy con-
trols the fore and aft position of the spinnaker pole; the
foreguy holds the spinnaker pole forward and down.
Gybe:
to change from one tack to another by turning
the stern through the wind.
H
Halyard:
rope used to hoist and lower sails.
Hank:
fitting used to attach the luff of a sail to a stay.
Hatch:
an opening in the deck giving access to the inte-
rior.
Hawes pipe:
see Navel pipe.
Head-topwind:
when the bows are pointing right into
the wind.
Headfoil:
a streamlined surround to a forestay, with a
groove into which a headsail luff slides.
Heads:
the toilet.
Headway:
the forward movement of a boat through the
water.
Heave-to:
to back the jib and lash the tiller to leeward;
used in heavy weather to encourage the boat to lie qui-
etly and to reduce headway.
Heaving line:
a light line suitable for throwing ashore.
Heel:
to lean over to one side.
I
Isobars:
lines on a weather map joining places of equal
atmospheric pressure.
J
Jackstay
: a line running fore and aft, on both sides of
the boat, to which safety harnesses are clipped.
Jury:
a temporary device to replace lost or damaged
gear.
K
Keel:
the main backbone of the boat to which a ballast
keel is bolted or through which the centerboard passes.
Kicking strap:
a line used to pull the boom down, to
keep it horizontal, particularly on a reach or run.
L
Lanyard:
a short line attached to one object, such as a
knife, with which it is secured to another.