What are sailing terms?

Sailing Terms

  • Port: Facing forward, this is anything to the left of the boat.
  • Starboard: Facing forward, this is anything to the right of the boat.
  • Bow/Stern: The bow is the front of the boat, the stern is the back.
  • Point of Sail: The boat’s direction relative to the wind.
  • Helm: Where you steer the boat.

What does shorthanded sailing mean?

Shorthanded sailing essentially revolves around sailing with a smaller crew than usual. While single-handed sailing refers to solo sailing, shorthanded sailing generally sidesteps the problem of finding or keeping a large crew together. You may have a lot of people on board but in terms of sailing, you’re shorthanded.

What is a bowman in sailing?

Bowman (the thankless job) – The bowman is in control of all sail hoists and drops depending on the point of sail, the bowman spends most of his or her time on the foredeck preparing for spinnaker hoists, gibes and drops. Communication is vital between the boat captain, pitman and mast man to ensure a smooth race.

What does Corinthian mean in sailing?

A Corinthian, then, was a spunky, robust guy or gal. This nickname would have appealed to the young American sailors of the 1870s who were challenging the yachting establishment by sailing their own boats. Until then most yachtsmen had just one well-proven ability, which was to write big checks.

What color is the nautical term for right?

Here’s the short answer: In terms of port and starboard colors, the color green is displayed on the right-hand side (starboard) side of a boat or ship, with the color red being displayed for navigational purposes on the left-hand (port) side of a boat or ship.

What is the sailing term for no wind?

Tide Over Not to be confused with “tied over,” this phrase has its origins in seafaring. When there was no wind to fill the sails, sailors would float with the tide until the wind returned. They would “tide over.”

What is a skipper in sailing?

A skipper is a person who has command of a boat or watercraft and is more or less equivalent to a captain in charge of a ship. The skipper may or may not be the owner of the boat. There are a number of types of different roles including flotilla, charter and delivery skippers.

What is the foredeck on a boat?

Foredeck: the front-most deck of the boat in boats that have multiple decks.

What does Corinthian spirit mean?

Corinthian Spirit, still understood as the highest standard of sportsmanship, is often associated with the side. This spirit was famously summed up in their attitude to penalties; “As far as they were concerned, a gentleman would never commit a deliberate foul on an opponent.

What does Bahia Corinthian mean?

Bahia means “bay,” and was also the name of the boat belonging to the first commodore, Don Bussey. The initials BYC were the same as an already established club in the harbor, so the word Corinthian was added to avoid duplication of initials.

Which side of the boat is port side?

left
When looking forward, toward the bow of a ship, port and starboard refer to the left and right sides, respectively. In the early days of boating, before ships had rudders on their centerlines, boats were controlled using a steering oar.

What are the key sailing terms to know?

Here are the key sailing terms you’ll want to know as you begin learning to sail! Port: Facing forward, this is anything to the left of the boat. When you’re onboard, you can use this term pretty much any time you would normally say “left.” Starboard: Facing forward, this is anything to the right of the boat.

What does Windward mean in sailing?

The windward refers to the direction where the wind is currently blowing. In other words, it is the opposite of leeward. It is important to be familiar with the commonly used terms used by boaters. Five basic sailing terms that you should know are as follows: Aft – the back of a sailboat. Bow – the front of a sailboat.

What are the different types of sail reaching?

This term pertains to sail from approximately 60 degrees to roughly 160 degrees off the wind. There are three different types of reaching: Close Reaching, Beam Reaching, and Broad Reaching. Close reaching refers to the point of sail from roughly 60 to 80 degrees. Beam reaching refers to the point of sail from more or less 90 degrees.

What is the leeward side of a sail called?

Leech: The rear edge of the foresail or the mainsail running from the head (top) to the clew (rear corner) of the sail. Leeward: Downwind. Leeway: When a boat sails across the wind, the force of the wind causes the boat to slip sideways. This drifting or sideway motion is known as Leeway.