
Assembly instructions
Valdivia
Order No.
1140
Maritime terms
Aback
The sail is on the weather side, but the wind is from the “wrong” side. The sail brakes the boat, or
turns the bow of the ship to lee
Anchor beam
Beam extending laterally over the bow to support anchor manoeuvres
Backstay
Pair of ropes which support the mast towards the stern. The lee rope can be released and belayed
further forward if necessary
Belay
Secure ropework temporarily
Belaying rail
Rail in the shrouds, for belaying
Bowsprit rigging
Bowsprit, jib boom and all ropework in this area
Bowsprit
Strong round-section spar projecting at the bow; supports the jib boom
Bulkhead
Watertight transverse partition in the hull; also watertight door
Bulwark
Hull side wall above deck level
Cap
Connecting piece between mast, topmast and spreader
Capstan head
Rotating tapered drum for tensioning or slackening ropes and chains
Caulking
Sealing material placed between individual planking strakes
Channel
Fitting on the hull side to which the shrouds are fixed
Clew
Rear corner of a sail to which the sheet is attached
Close-haul
Tightening a rope or sheet
Clove hitch
Cruciform knot for belaying, fixes the rope securely
Crow’s foot
Rope designed to distribute forces at several points
Deadeye
Wooden block with three holes, for tensioning ropework
Dolphin striker
Round-section spar for spreading the jib boom stays
Footrope
Loop of rope under booms or yards on which crew members stand when working on the boom or
yard
Foresail stretcher
Rope at the bottom corner of the sail which is used to control the tension of the sail’s front edge
Gaff fitting
Swivel connection between mast and gaff
Gaff
Round-section spar which supports the top edge of the sail
Guy
Lateral bracing rope on the jib boom
Gybe
Change of course in which the boat’s stern turns through the wind
Halyard
Rope for pulling up sails etc.
Handrail
Rail on superstructure and bulwark providing hand-support for crew members
Hawse
Metal ring in bulwark for chains and ropes to pass through with minimum friction
Head
Top corner of a triangular sail
Heaving to
Braking manoeuvre in which the ship is turned into wind, in order to exploit the braking effect of the
shivering sails
Heel
Angle of the boat caused by wind pressure
Jaw plate
Rigid fork-shaped connection between mast and gaff or boom
Jib boom
Round spar on the bowsprit to which the foresails are attached
Joggle
Special angled joint between king strakes and deck planking
King strake
Central strake in deck planking to which all other planks are fitted
Lacing
Rope for attaching the sails e.g. to gaff and boom
Lashing
Short piece of rope
Lazy jack
Ropework between topping lift and boom; convenient means of furling or reefing gaff sails
Lee tendency
The boat tends to turn its bow away from the wind when the rudder is neutral, with the result that
the sail area facing the wind increases. Remedy: the effect of the foresails must be reduced
Lee
The side away from the wind. The sails always face the lee when the ship is sailing
Loop
Loop at the end of a rope
Mainmast
Tallest mast on a sailing ship
Mast cheek
Support attached to the mast for ropework or spreader
Masthead
Part of mast at which the cross-section changes from round to rectangular
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