We were hoping the holidays had arrived early, but aboard a boat, “cringle” refers to a small fitting in a sail that allows a line to fasten to it-not the big bearded guy in the red suit.ħ. This practical cover is used to shade the cockpit area from the sun.Ħ. No, we’re not talking about the refreshing peach drink (though you’re likely to sip more than a few on your yacht excursion). Instead, the moniker refers to clumps of vaguely gross-looking frayed rope that protect sails from chafing against the lines.ĥ. When we first heard the term, we thought old-timey sailors were worried about their uniforms getting baggy-wrinkled. If the captain says he’s really preoccupied by a “guy” on deck, he’s probably fiddling with one of the braces used to control the poles in the rigging.Ĥ. Sure, it sounds more like Yeezus lyrics than boat terminology, but an accidental jibe occurs whenever the wind shifts so that that the stern passes through the eye of the wind, causing the boom to swing across the deck (and occasionally whack revelers overboard).ģ. A giant horizontal pole that secures the bottom of the sail with a habit of swinging suddenly and smacking yachters in the head-thus earnings its name, ‘boom’ (related: ‘accidental jibe’).Ģ. (What? It’s a valve that keeps water out of the hull).ġ. Since we can’t hope to school you in the intricacies of “admirality law” in a single sitting, we’re decoding ten of the most baffling terms you’ll encounter on your yacht trip this summer. Even after you’ve mastered “fore” and “aft” (not to be confused with “aback” and “abaft”), the vast, highly specific and often bewildering lexicon of yachting can take a serious sailor years to master. Winch: cylindrical metal hardware-beer- or paint-can sized-on either side of the cockpit where sheets are wrapped clockwise to crank sails in and out.Climb aboard a sailboat and you may feel like you’ve forgotten your own language. Stern: the back end of the boat, opposite the pointy end. Starboard: the right side of the boat facing forward. Spinnaker: a parachute-like, triangular sail attached at the bow and used to propel a sailboat with the wind behind it. Sheets: lines attached to the sails to control them. Port and left are both four-letter words. Port: the left side of the boat facing forward. Lifejackets are not as silly looking as they used to be. If someone asks you to wear one, don’t be offended. PFD: a personal flotation device or lifejacket. Mast: the vertical pole on deck or “the stick.” Mainsail: the big sail attached to the mast. Line: a rope on a boat is always called a line. Keel: the heavy fixed fin on the bottom of the boat. Jib: the smaller triangular sail attached at the bow. Helm: where the skipper steers with a wheel or a stick-like tiller. It does not keel over as one might after too much rum. Heel: the boat heels or leans at an angle while sailing. The skipper says, “Prepare to gybe!” The crew says, “Ready” and stays low to avoid the fast-moving boom. ![]() This is when the boat turns with the wind at your back. Gybing: sometimes spelled jibing (never jiving). The skipper says, “Helmsalee” or “Hard-alee” and turns.ĭeck: anywhere you can walk around on the exterior of the boat. The skipper will say, “Ready about!” The crew responds, “Ready,” and they keep their heads down to avoid the boom. Learning these 22 terms will help you understand what’s going on aboard any sailboat in the English-speaking world.īelow: when you go into the cabin, it’s never “downstairs.” It’s always down below.īoom: the pole hanging horizontally above the cockpit that could boom into your head if you’re not careful.īow: the front end of the boat, or as sailors refer to it with a grin, “the pointy end.”Ĭleat: classic ones are shaped like anvils, but there are more modern versions with pinching teeth for securing lines on deck and on the dock.Ĭockpit: the area with seats near the steering station or helm.Ĭome about: to turn the bow of the boat through the wind. Don’t worry if it takes you time to digest the complex language of sailing it is an ongoing process and a fun one. ![]() Even longtime sailors use the not-soofficial terms of “thingamabob” and “doo-hickey.” In sailing, there is always something to earn. Unless you speak Old English, sailing terms probably sound confusing to you.
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