Are Sailing Terms Confusing to You?
“Avast ye landlubbers!”
You may recognize that phrase, because you’ve been to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland, or maybe because you’ve heard Johnny Depp say it as Captain Jack Sparrow in the movie “Pirates of the Caribbean”.
But other than that, hearing people use sailing terms is like hearing a foreign language.
If you’re a beginner in the sport of sail boating, it would probably be a good idea to become familiar with the words and phrases that seasoned sailors use.
Sailing terms 101:
Several of these terms are directional, so it’s especially important that you understand them.
- Bow – The bow of the ship is the front.
- Aft – Opposite of the bow is the aft, or back of the boat.
- Starboard – The terms right and left aren’t used on a boat, because it can become confusing. So starboard and port designate the right and left directions. Orient yourself on the boat by facing the bow, when facing this direction, starboard is always on the right hand side.
- Port – Just the opposite of starboard when facing the bow of the boat, port is on the left side.
- Windward – This term refers to the direction that the wind is currently blowing. Since sailboats basically move with the wind, this is an important term to understand.
- Leeward – Sometimes called lee, this term refers to the opposite direction that the wind is blowing.
If you’re going to help with the actual sailing of the boat, or if you are just along for the ride, understanding some of the names of the parts of the boat can be very helpful.
- Rudder – The rudder is located beneath the boat and is used for steering. Some rudders are made of a flat piece of wood, metal or fiberglass, and on larger boats they are controlled by a steering wheel.
- Boom – Definitely a term you should be familiar with is the boom. This is the large horizontal pole that extends from the bottom of the mast. As the wind or the direction of the boat changes, the boom is adjusted back and forth to catch the wind in the sails, allowing the wind to move the boat forward.
The next two terms have to do with the maneuvering of the boat.
- Tacking – This is a basic maneuver of sailing, referring to turning the bow of the boat to travel through the wind, changing the direction of the wind to the other side of the boat. As this maneuver is accomplished, the boom will swing from one side to the other.
- Jibbing – This maneuver is the opposite of tacking – rather than turning the bow of the boat to travel through the wind, the stern, or back of the boat is turned to travel through the wind causing it to be on the other side of the boat. Jibing turns the boat directly into the wind.
These are just a few of the most common sailing terms. If you’re going sailing with someone or learning to sail yourself, I would encourage you to learn these and other terms that will make your experience much more enjoyable and easier to understand.
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Once I complete the licensing requirements, I will be offering sailing lessons through the local sailing schools. I would be honored to have you in one of my classes. Watch for updates!
