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Questions & Correct Answers
Abeam
The location of anything beyond either side of the boat at right angles to the
centerline.
Accidental jibe
An unexpected jibe when sailing downwind and the wind catches the back side of
the mainsail, possibly causing the helmsman to lose control of the boat
Aft
The direction toward the stern.
Ahead
The location of anything forward of the bow.
Astern
The location of anything aft of the stern.
Battens
Stiffening pieces placed horizontally along the leech of a sail.
Beam reach
The point of sailing across the wind, with the sails approximately halfway out.
Boom
A spar attached to the mast at right angles to hold the bottom of the mainsail.
Boom grove
A slot on the top side of the boom into which the foot of the mainsail slides
Boom vang or vang
A piece of running rigging that pulls down on the boom to keep it from rising
under the pressure of the mainsail.
Bottom
The outside surface of the hull below the water.
Bow
The front of any hull.
Bowline
The most useful knot in sailing, the bowline produces an eye that is very secure but
very easy to untie.
Broad reach
The downwind point of sailing about 100° to 140° from the wind, with the sails
approximately 3/4 of the way out.
Catamaran
A type of multihull with two hulls.
,Centerboard
A form of fin to prevent side-slip that is adjusted by swinging up and down in a
trunk.
Centerline
The fore-and-aft line running from bow to stern halfway between the sides of the
boat.
Cleat
A fitting to which a piece of running rigging is secured.
Cleat hitch
The method for securing a line to a horn cleat by taking a turn around the horns of
the cleat.
Close-hauled
The upwind point of sailing closest to the wind, about 45 degrees from the wind
direction, with the sails trimmed in close.
Close reach
The upwind point of sailing about 60° to 75° from the wind direction, with the sails
let out 1/4 of the way, on the verge of luffing.
Cockpit
The interior part of a boat where people usually sit.
Coming about/ Tacking
To change directions by turning the boat's bow through the wind.
Controlled jibe
allowing the boat to jibe while steering carefully and trimming the main sheet in
and out smoothly.
Cow hitch
a very simple loop knot often used to secure jib sheets to the clew of the jib.
Crew
The person or persons in a boat who trim the jib, balance the boat, and keep a
lookout for things the helmsman may not see.
Cunningham
A line or mechanism that tensions the forward edge of a sail.
Current
horizontal flow of water
Daggerboard
a daggerboard slides up and down through the hull and acts like a centerboard to
keep a sailboat from side-slipping.
Downwind
The direction of movement with the wind coming over the stern.
Downwind sailing
, sailing in the direction to which the wind is blowing, which includes board
reaching and running.
Drain plugs
caps for the holes used to drain water from the cockpit, which must be inserted
before sailing a boat stored on land.
Ease
To let out a sheet slowly and smoothly to find the optimum setting for a sail.
"Ease out"
a command for letting out a sheet to trim a sail.
Fairlead
A small circular fitting through which a sheet may be led to keep if free for
trimming.
Figure-eight-knot
a simple stopper knot tied in the end of a sheet to prevent it from slipping through a
fairlead.
Figure-eight PIW
(Person in water) recovery. A procedure for retrieving someone in the water by
sailing a figure-eight pattern to return alongside and pick them up.
Fins
Appendages to a hull for steering or to prevent sideslipping.
Foot
The bottom of the sail.
Forestay
The piece of standing rigging that runs from the bow to the head of the mast to
support it.
Forward
The direction of the bow.
Give-way vessel
Under navigation rules, the vessel that must alter course and/or speed to pass at a
safe distance.
Give-way vessel
Under navigation rules, the vessel that must alter course and/or speed to pass at a
safe distance.
Halyard
A piece of running rigging used to raise a sail.
Hank
A fitting on the luff of the jib that clips it to the forestay.
"Hard-to lee"
The top corner of a sail.
Head
Questions & Correct Answers
Abeam
The location of anything beyond either side of the boat at right angles to the
centerline.
Accidental jibe
An unexpected jibe when sailing downwind and the wind catches the back side of
the mainsail, possibly causing the helmsman to lose control of the boat
Aft
The direction toward the stern.
Ahead
The location of anything forward of the bow.
Astern
The location of anything aft of the stern.
Battens
Stiffening pieces placed horizontally along the leech of a sail.
Beam reach
The point of sailing across the wind, with the sails approximately halfway out.
Boom
A spar attached to the mast at right angles to hold the bottom of the mainsail.
Boom grove
A slot on the top side of the boom into which the foot of the mainsail slides
Boom vang or vang
A piece of running rigging that pulls down on the boom to keep it from rising
under the pressure of the mainsail.
Bottom
The outside surface of the hull below the water.
Bow
The front of any hull.
Bowline
The most useful knot in sailing, the bowline produces an eye that is very secure but
very easy to untie.
Broad reach
The downwind point of sailing about 100° to 140° from the wind, with the sails
approximately 3/4 of the way out.
Catamaran
A type of multihull with two hulls.
,Centerboard
A form of fin to prevent side-slip that is adjusted by swinging up and down in a
trunk.
Centerline
The fore-and-aft line running from bow to stern halfway between the sides of the
boat.
Cleat
A fitting to which a piece of running rigging is secured.
Cleat hitch
The method for securing a line to a horn cleat by taking a turn around the horns of
the cleat.
Close-hauled
The upwind point of sailing closest to the wind, about 45 degrees from the wind
direction, with the sails trimmed in close.
Close reach
The upwind point of sailing about 60° to 75° from the wind direction, with the sails
let out 1/4 of the way, on the verge of luffing.
Cockpit
The interior part of a boat where people usually sit.
Coming about/ Tacking
To change directions by turning the boat's bow through the wind.
Controlled jibe
allowing the boat to jibe while steering carefully and trimming the main sheet in
and out smoothly.
Cow hitch
a very simple loop knot often used to secure jib sheets to the clew of the jib.
Crew
The person or persons in a boat who trim the jib, balance the boat, and keep a
lookout for things the helmsman may not see.
Cunningham
A line or mechanism that tensions the forward edge of a sail.
Current
horizontal flow of water
Daggerboard
a daggerboard slides up and down through the hull and acts like a centerboard to
keep a sailboat from side-slipping.
Downwind
The direction of movement with the wind coming over the stern.
Downwind sailing
, sailing in the direction to which the wind is blowing, which includes board
reaching and running.
Drain plugs
caps for the holes used to drain water from the cockpit, which must be inserted
before sailing a boat stored on land.
Ease
To let out a sheet slowly and smoothly to find the optimum setting for a sail.
"Ease out"
a command for letting out a sheet to trim a sail.
Fairlead
A small circular fitting through which a sheet may be led to keep if free for
trimming.
Figure-eight-knot
a simple stopper knot tied in the end of a sheet to prevent it from slipping through a
fairlead.
Figure-eight PIW
(Person in water) recovery. A procedure for retrieving someone in the water by
sailing a figure-eight pattern to return alongside and pick them up.
Fins
Appendages to a hull for steering or to prevent sideslipping.
Foot
The bottom of the sail.
Forestay
The piece of standing rigging that runs from the bow to the head of the mast to
support it.
Forward
The direction of the bow.
Give-way vessel
Under navigation rules, the vessel that must alter course and/or speed to pass at a
safe distance.
Give-way vessel
Under navigation rules, the vessel that must alter course and/or speed to pass at a
safe distance.
Halyard
A piece of running rigging used to raise a sail.
Hank
A fitting on the luff of the jib that clips it to the forestay.
"Hard-to lee"
The top corner of a sail.
Head
