Sailing Terms

Basic
Bow - the front of the boat

Stern - the back of the boat

Port - left when facing the bow

Starboard - right when facing the bow

Bearing Off - Turning the boat away from the wind

Heading Up - Turning towards the wind

(In) Irons - Pointing into the wind

Tacking - Turning the bow of the boat through Irons, sails switch sides

Gybing - Turning the boat so the stern passes through the wind, sails switch sides

Centerboard - a foil extending below the boat to prevent lateral drift, can pivot up into the hull

Daggerboard - a foil extending below the boat to prevent lateral drift

Keel - a foil extending below the boat to prevent lateral drift, with an attached ballast to keep the boat stable

Jib - sail infront of the mast

Mainsail - sail behind the mast

Main sheet - line which controls the mainsail's angle of attack

Boom vang - line which controls the mainsail's twist and leech tension

Jib sheet - rope which controls the jib's angle of attack

Heel - longitudinal roll

Advanced
Leeway - difference between apparent heading and course-made-good. allows lift off keel/daggerboard

Leeward - side farthest from the wind

Windward - side closest to the wind

Velocity Header - a lull causing the apparent wind to rotate towards the bow, forces the boat to bear off

Velocity Lift- a gust causing the apparent wind to rotate towards the stern, allows the boat to head up

Header - wind shifts towards the bow forces boat to bear off

Lift - wind shifts towards stern allows boat head up

Lee helm - unbalanced moments between forces from water and forces from air. boat bears off if unchecked

Weather helm - unbalanced moments between forces from water and forces from air. boat heads up if unchecked

Oversteering - pushing the rudder to far, stalling the rudder and resulting in total loss of control.

Spinnaker - third sail hoisted going downwind, doused (taken down) for other points of sail

Slot- gap between main and jib sail, important to have proper air flow, if choked can cause air to stall on the leaward side of the main