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G
Gooseneck
The ‘jaws’ of the boom that clip onto the mast
Gunwhale
The top edge of the hull, that you sit on when
leaning out to balance the boat
Gybe
To change tack by turning the stern of the boat
through the wind.
H
Halyard
The rope used to hoist sails
Head
The top corner of a sail
‘Head to Wind’
To point the bow in the direction that the wind is
blowing from, causing the sails to flap
‘Heave to’
To stop the boat by easing the main sheet and
backing the jib
Heel
A boat ‘heels’ when it leans over due to the
sideways force of the wind
Helm/Helmsman
The person who steers the boat, or another name
for the tiller
Hull
The hollow, lower-most part of the boat, floating
partially submerged and supporting the rest of the
boat
I
‘Into the Wind’
To point the bow in the direction that the wind is
blowing from, causing the sails to flap
Inversion
A capsize where the boat turns upside down, or
‘turtles’
