Are you a beginner Sailing enthusiast looking to learn the ropes of the sport? With the holiday season upon us and more people heading to the beach next summer, now is the perfect time to brush up on your sailing terminology. I have given 15 sailing terms for beginners.
A nautical language can be daunting like sailing terms for beginners – it’s full of terms that don’t have an obvious meaning to non-sailors or even some experienced sailors. Without the proper understanding, you might be hard-pressed to comprehend the average nautical book.
I have spent ample time on the internet researching sailing terms. I have read some sites that were clear; others were not. All of them were useful, but only after I had understood them.
So here are the definitions for all newcomers to the seafaring world who may be experiencing the same confusion!
1. Port
This word is mainly used to refer to everything to the left of the sailboat while going forward.
You may use this phrase in place of “left” when you’re aboard, pretty much wherever.
2. Starboard
The same deal as “Port.” Just the opposite. It refers to everything to the right of the board while going forward.
When you’re on a sailboat with a crew, you may use this phrase in place of “right” for almost everything.
3. Cabin
It’s probably the most common term you’ve heard. The cabin of a sailboat is basically the same as a cabin on a ship.
It’s the interior part of a sailboat. It can refer to the whole interior as well as one room for sleeping (which is the case for small sailboats).
4. Hull
Hull is the bottom outer part of a sailboat. It’s the part that comes into close touch with the water.
The hull design may vary from one boat to another. There are many types of hulls which is a topic for another day.
5. Bow / Stern
These are used to refer to the front and back of the “hull.” Hull is essentially divided into two parts.
One is the Bow (front of the ship), and the other is the Stern (back of the ship).
6. Ballast
You’ve probably seen those heavy things like metal or stone attached to the hull (bottom) of a sailboat. Yes, those are called “ballast.”
Ballasts are mainly used to increase sailboats’ stability and performance.
7. Helm
The “helm” is where you direct the boat. It’s like the steering wheel of a boat, and it also works kind of similar to a car wheel.
In big sailboats, the helm is usually a giant wheel. In smaller boats, it’s a tiller, just a long wooden pole.
Helms are used to controlling the rudder of the boat.
8. Helmsman
No, it’s not just man. It can be a man or woman! As the name suggests, the “helmsman” is the person who controls the “helm.” You can associate this with the driver of a car.
There is a misconception that you need a lot of experience to become a helmsman, which isn’t true.
Yeah, experience surely helps. But like learning to drive a car, if you get the proper training, you can easily manage beginner sailboats too.
9. Point of Sail
This phrase refers to the direction of the board in relation to the wind in the sea.
For example, your sailboat’s “point of sail” will call “in irons” if you’re sailing directly into the wind. (Warning: This isn’t a good spot!).
There are eight points of sail, and it’s a good idea to get to know them before heading out.
10. Keel
What are keels? Well, Keels are those fin-like things attached under the boat’s belly. These remains are always underwater.
The sizes and forms may vary depending on the sailboat. Sometimes it is small and shallow (fin keel), and other times it stretches from the front to the rear (full keel or ballast keel). [You have probably heard of the “Full Keel” boat]
Its primary purpose is to provide stability and aid in maintaining forward motion while sailing.
11. Cockpit
The cockpit is the place from which a boat is piloted. It usually is at the back of a sailboat and is an open space with no roof; this may depend on how small or big the sailboat is.
The rudder control (helm) and winches are located here. In smaller sailboats (under 70 feet), this section often serves as a deck dining area with a table and seats.
12. Lines
This is a fancy word for ropes. Basically, every rope in a sailboat called a “line,” There isn’t much else here, I guess!
13. Mainsail
There are many types of sail such as the mainsail (the big triangular sail) of a sailboat. It’s what makes a boat a “sailboat!”
14. Jib
The “jib” is the secondary “sail” of a sailboat. The jib, unlike the mainsail, is usually attached at the front of the mast and does not have a boom.
15. Boom
The boom is the horizontal pole that extends from the mast’s bottom. The sailboat harnesses wind power by adjusting the boom towards the direction of the wind to move forward or backward.
Conclusion
As they say: knowledge is power. With the power of knowledge and experience in mind, we’ve compiled this list of the sailing terms for beginners that is easy enough to understand. But how much does a sail cost? well, now you are a beginner so, rent a boat and do sailing.
There are some other nautical slang and some funny/strange sailing terms that you should also know to work with a crew. We’ll talk about that some other day.
Hopefully, this simple explanation of sailing terms helped those looking to buy a sailboat soon and go out on an adventure like never before. Now you know terms like port, hull, cabin, lines, windward, etc.
It is no longer news that the world’s oceans are more polluted than at any other time in the last 50 years. So, if you’re among them, you need the knowledge.
