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Beam Reach:
Sailing at approximately 90 degrees to the wind
source with the wind coming from abeam
Beating:
Sailing toward the wind source or against the wind
with the sails pulled in all the way, tacking as you go, to reach
a destination upwind
Boom:
The horizontal spar to which the foot of a sail is attached
Bow:
The forward end of a boat
Cleat:
A fitting to which the rigging line may be secured
Downwind:
Sailing away from the wind with the sails let out
all the way
Knot:
One nautical mile per hour, one knot equals 1.2 mph
Main sail:
The largest working sail that is attached to
the mast
Mast:
Vertical spar to which the rigging and sails are attached
Port:
The left side of the boat (when facing forward)
Rudder:
Vertical plate attached at the stern that controls the
movements of the boat
Starboard:
The right side of the boat (when facing forward)
Starboard Tack and Port Tack:
The right side of the boat is called the starboard side and the left
side is called port. When the boat sails with the wind coming
across the starboard side and the main sail is on the port side,
the boat is sailing on a starboard tack. When the boat sails with
the wind coming across the port side of the boat and the main
sail on the starboard side, the boat is sailing on a port tack.
Stern:
The back end of a boat
Tack:
To turn the bow of a sailboat through the wind so that the
sails fill the opposite side
Weather Helm:
The natural tendency of a boat to turn toward
the wind
Basic Glossary
