GLOSSARY OF SAILING TERMS
PAGE 7
Member:
a part of the skeleton of the
hull, such as a
stringer
laminated into
fiberglass hull to strengthen it.
Meridian:
an imaginary line encircling
the Earth that passes through the
poles and cuts at right angles through
the Equator. All lines of longitude are
meridians.
Mizzen:
1, the shorter, after-mast on a
ketch
or
yawl
; 2, the fore and aft sail
set on this mast.
N
Navel pipe:
a metal pipe in the
foredeck through which the anchor
chain passes to the locker below.
Noon Sight:
a vessel
’
s latitude can
be found, using a sextant, when a
heavenly body on the observer
’
s
meridian
is at its greatest altitude. The
sight of the sun at noon is the one
most frequently taken.
O
Off the wind:
with the sheets slacked
off, not
close-hauled.
On the wind:
close-hauled
.
Out haul:
a rope used to pull out the
foot of a sail.
Overall length (LOA):
the boat
’
s
extreme length, measured from the
foremost past of the bow to the
aftermost part of the stern, excluding
bowspirt, self-steering gear etc.
P
Painter:
the bow line by which a
dinghy, or
tender,
is towed or made
fast.
Pintle:
a rudder fitting with a long pin
that fits into the
gudgeon
to form a
hinged pivot for the rudder.
Pitch:
1, the up and down motion of
the bows of a boat plunging over the
waves; 2, the angle of the propeller
blades.
Point of sailing:
the different angles
from which a boat may sail; the boat
’
s
course
relative to the direction of the
wind.
Port:
the left-hand side of the boat,
looking forward (opp. of
starboard
).
Port tack:
a boat is on a port tack
when the wind strikes the port side
first and the mainsail is out to
starboard.
A boat on the port tack
gives way to a boat on a starboard
tack.
Position line/ Line of position:
a line
drawn on a chart, as a result of taking
a bearing, along which the boat
’
s
position must be i.e. Two position
lines give a fix.
Pulpit:
a metal
guard rail
fitted at
the
bows of a boat to provide safety for
the crew.
Pushpit:
a metal
guard rail
fitted at
the stern.
Q
Quarter:
the portion of the boat
midway between the stern and the
beam; on the quarter means about 45
degrees
abaft
the beam.
R
Rake:
the fore and aft deviation from
the perpendicular of a mast or other
feature of a boat.
Range:
1, see
transit;
2, of tides, the
difference between the high and low
water levels of a tide; 3, the distance
at which a light can be seen.
Rating:
a method of measuring
certain dimensions of a yacht to
enable it to take part in handicap
races.
Reach:
to
sail
with
the
wind
approximately on the
beam
; all sailing
points between running and
close-
hauled
.
Reef:
to reduce the sail area by
folding or rolling surplus material on
the boom or
forestay
.
Reefing pennant:
strong line with
which the
luff
or leech
cringle
is pulled
down to the
boom
when reefing.
Rhumb line:
a line cutting all
meridians
at the same angle; the
course
followed by a boat sailing in a
fixed direction.
Riding light to anchor light:
an all-
around white light, usually hoisted on
the forestay, to show that a boat under
50 ft. (15m.)is at anchor. It must be
visible for 2 mls. (3 km.).
Rigging screw:
a deck fitting with
which the tensions of standing rigging,
e.g. stays, shrouds, etc. are adjusted.
Roach:
the curved part of the
leech
of
a sail that extends beyond the direct
line from head to
clew.
Run:
to run with the wind
aft
and with
the
sheets
eased well out.
Running rigging:
all the moving
lines, such as
sheets
and
halyards
,
used in the
setting
and
trimming
of
sails.
S
Scope:
the length of rope or cable
paid out when mor anchoring.
Scuppers:
1, holes in the toe rail that
allow water to drain off the deck; 2,
drain cockpit through hull.
Seacock:
a valve that shuts off an
underwater inlet or outlet passing
through the hull.
Seize:
to bind two ropes together, or a
rope to a
spar
, with a light line.
Serve:
to cover and protect a
splice
or
part of a rope with twine bound tightly
against the lay.
Serving mallet:
tool with a grooved
head, used when serving a rope to
keep the twine at a constant and high
tension.
Set:
1, to hoist a sail; 2, the way in
which the sails fit; 3, the direction of
tidal current or steam.
Shackle:
a
metal
link
with
a
removable bolt across the end; of
various shapes: D, U.
Sheave:
a grooved wheel in a
block
or
spar
for a rope to run on.
Sheet:
the rope attached to the
clew
of a sail or to the boom, enabling it to
be controlled or
trimmed
.
Shrouds:
ropes or wires, usually in
pairs, led from the mast to the
chain
plates
at deck level to prevent the
mast falling sideways; part of the
standing rigging.
Sloop:
a single-masted sailing boat
with a mainsail and one head sail.
Spar:
a general term for any wooden
or metal pole, e.g., mast or boom,
used to carry or give shape to sails.
Spindrift:
spray blown along the
surface of the sea.
Spinnaker:
a large, light, balloon
shaped sail set when
reaching
or
running.
Splice:
to join ropes or wire by
unlaying the strands and interweaving
them.
Split pin:
see
cotter pin.
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