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Sailing Basics - 10 Nautical - Sailing Terms To Know

The document provides a concise list of 10 essential nautical and sailing terms for beginners, including definitions for aft, bow, port, starboard, leeward, windward, boom, rudder, tacking, and jibing. These terms are crucial for understanding basic sailing concepts and navigating a sailboat. Familiarity with these terms can enhance the sailing experience for new learners or prospective boat owners.

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32 views2 pages

Sailing Basics - 10 Nautical - Sailing Terms To Know

The document provides a concise list of 10 essential nautical and sailing terms for beginners, including definitions for aft, bow, port, starboard, leeward, windward, boom, rudder, tacking, and jibing. These terms are crucial for understanding basic sailing concepts and navigating a sailboat. Familiarity with these terms can enhance the sailing experience for new learners or prospective boat owners.

Uploaded by

arjoedeguzman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Sailing Basics: 10 Nautical & Sailing Terms To

Know

While our Glossary of Boating Terms provides a comprehensive list of commonly used words and
phrases within the boating community, we’ve also compiled this short list of 10 beginner sailing terms
that everyone should know. If you’re just learning how to sail—or if you're thinking about purchasing
a sailboat of your own—these handy terms can provide a helpful overview of sailing basics you need
to become familiar with.

10 Nautical & Sailing Terms Everyone Should Know


1. Aft - The back of a ship. If something is located aft, it is at the back of the sailboat. The aft is also
known as the stern.

2. Bow - The front of the ship is called the bow. Knowing the location of the bow is important for
defining two of the other most common sailing terms: port (left of the bow) and starboard (right of the
bow).

3. Port - Port is always the left-hand side of the boat when you are facing the bow. Because “right”
and “left” can become confusing sailing terms when used out in the open waters, port is used to define
the left-hand side of the boat as it relates to the bow, or front.

4. Starboard - Starboard is always the right-hand side of the boat when you are facing the bow.
Because “right” and “left” can become confusing sailing terms when used out in the open waters,
starboard is used to define the right-hand side of the boat as it relates to the bow, or front.

5. Leeward - Also known as lee, leeward is the direction opposite to the way the wind is currently
blowing (windward).

6. Windward - The direction in which the wind is currently blowing. Windward is the opposite of
leeward (the opposite direction of the wind). Sailboats tend to move with the wind, making the
windward direction an important sailing term to know.

7. Boom - The boom is the horizontal pole which extends from the bottom of the mast. Adjusting the
boom towards the direction of the wind is how the sailboat is able to harness wind power in order to
move forward or backwards.

8. Rudder - Located beneath the boat, the rudder is a flat piece of wood, fiberglass, or metal that is
used to steer the ship. Larger sailboats control the rudder via a wheel, while smaller sailboats will have
a steering mechanism directly aft.

9. Tacking - The opposite of jibing, this basic sailing maneuver refers to turning the bow of the boat
through the wind so that the wind changes from one side of the boat to the other side. The boom of a
boat will always shift from one side to the other when performing a tack or a jibe.

10. Jibing - The opposite of tacking, this basic sailing maneuver refers to turning the stern of the boat
through the wind so that the wind changes from one side of the boat to the other side. The boom of a
boat will always shift from one side to the other when performing a tack or a jibe. Jibing is a less
common technique than tacking, since it involves turning a boat directly into the wind.

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