Sailing Glossary & Terms

Aboard

On the vessel, or within it.

Aft

Towards the vessels stern.

Aloft

Above the deck.

Amidships

The centre of the vessel.

Avast

A command that means 'stop what you’re doing.'

Aweigh

The anchor has been lifted off of the bottom.

Base-Layer

An item of clothing that can serve as a bottom layer; usually a t-shirt or something lightweight.

Beam

The measurement where the vessel is widest.

Boat

A vessel that is smaller than a ship.

Bow

The front of the vessel.

Bowline

A knot that is used to create a temporary loop.

Breach

A hole or opening in the vessel's hull.

Bridge

Where the direction and speed of a vessel is controlled from.

Buoy

A float that is anchored to mark boundaries, hazards and other things that sailors should be aware of.

Buoyancy Aid

A floatation device to assist in keeping you afloat should you find yourself in the water.

Cabin

An onboard housing for passengers and crew.

Capsize

To turn completely over in the water.

Cast OffTo let go

Clew

The aftmost corner of a triangular sail.

Course

The direction a vessel is heading.

Current

The movement of water, horizontally.

Deadweight

The total weight of everything onboard, including cargo, passengers and crew.

Deck

The area that covers the top of any part of the vessel.

Displacement

The amount of water displaced by a vessel floating in the water, and the consequent weight of the boat.

Dock

An area that vessels can be moored in.

Ebb

The receding tide or current.

Equator

An imaginary arc that runs around the Earth’s surface, where every point is the same distance from both the North and South Pole.

Fathom

Unit of measuring distance; six feet.

Fender

Any piece of equipment, such as rope, a tyre or an inflated ball, that will absorb shock between the vessel and another object.

Flood

The rising tide or current.

Foot

The bottom edge of a triangular sail.

Forward

Towards the vessels bow.

Fouled

When a piece of equipment becomes tangled or jammed.

Hold

A compartment below deck that is used to carry cargo.

Hull

A vessel’s main body.

Jacob's Ladder

A ladder that is lowered from the deck to allow passengers and crew to climb aboard.

Jettison

To throw overboard.

Latitude

How far north or south of the equator a given location is, measured in degrees.

Leeward

Heading away from the wind.

Leeway

The sideways movement of the boat caused by current or the wind.

Log

A record of weather, navigation data, crew names, sightings, etc. Also a device used to measure the vessel's speed.

Longitude

How far east or west of the meridian a given location is, measured in degrees.

Mast

The main vertical spar used to support sails and their running rigging.

Meridian

An imaginary arc on the Earth’s surface running from North to South and through Greenwich, England.

Mid-Layer

A layer that can be worn over a base-layer to provide extra warmth or protection.

Mid-Ship

point of equal distance from the bow and stern of the vessel.

Mooring

A specialised arrangement that allows you to secure a vessel to a buoy or pier.

Nautical Mile

The length of one minute of arc along any great circle of the Earth. Roughly equivalent to 6076ft.

Navigation

The safe passing of a vessel to its intended destination.

Overboard

Out of the vessel.

Pier

A platform that extends from the shore.

Port

Left side of the vessel when facing forward.

Privileged Vessel

A vessel that has right of way.

Pulpit

A metal framework attached to the bow or stern that acts as both a safety railing and a prop for lifelines.

Rigging

The lines that hold up the spars and move the sails.

Rudder

The board that allows the vessel to be steered.

Running Rigging

The adjustable rigging that controls the sails.

Sail

The cloth that catches the wind and powers the vessel.

Sea Room

An area that is a safe distance from any hazards.

Ship

A vessel that is larger than a boat; usually one that can carry boats onboard and is suitable for ocean sailing.

Spar

A pole or beam on the vessel.

Standing Rigging

Rigging that permanently supports the spars.

Starboard

Right side of the vessel when facing forward.

Stern

The back of the vessel.

Tide

The rise and fall of the ocean's water level.

Topmast

An additional spar attached to the top of the main mast to fly more sail.

Underway

The vessel is in motion and not moored or aground.

Vessel

A waterborne vehicle.

Wheel

The device that is used to steer the vessel.

Windward

Heading towards the wind.

Yacht

A vessel used for primarily non-commercial purposes.