re: Any Ole salty sea dogs on here? I need a crash course in sailing lingo

Abeam Off to the side of a vessel at right angles to the boat’s centerline.
Aboard On or in the boat
Anchor A device used to hold a boat to the sea bottom
Aft At, near or towards the stern.
Apparent Wind The wind that flows over a moving boat, which is a result of the “true wind” affected by the movement of
the boat.
Appendage An underwater fin such as a centerboard dagger board, t\leeboard or rudder.
Astern Behind the boat
Backing Pushing out a sail so that the wind fills it from the opposite side. Used to slow a boat or turn the bow
away away from the wind when in irons; back winding – a sail backwinds with the wind funneling on the
wrong side.
Bailer A device used to remove water from the boat. A bailer is required equipment for a Sabot.
Batten Thin fiberglass or wood slats that are inserted in the leech (outside) of the sail for added support.
Beam Maximum width of a boat; beam reach – sailing at approximately 90 degrees to the wind with the wind
coming from abeam and the sails eased about half way.
Beat Advance to windward on alternate tacks; beating – to sail to windward, close-hauled, tacking to make
way to windward.
Bitter end End of a line.
Block A pulley that is encased in its own housing. A block will help to add purchase when pulling on a line. It is
important to use the correct size line with the blocks on your boat.
Bolt rope Sewn around luff and foot of sails to give added strength to sail where it attaches to mast or boom.
Boom Horizontal spar that supports the foot (bottom) of the sail. Named for the sound it makes when it hits
someone’s head.
Boom Vang A line that runs from the boom to the base of the mast. The vang helps keep the boom down and tighten
the back (leech) of the sail.
Bow The forward part of a boat, the pointy end.
Bow Line Also known as a painter. The bow line is used to tie the boat to the dock or to a tow line. Minimum 10
foot bowline is required equipment. Best if at least ¼” in diameter.
Broad Reach Sailing with the wind coming over the rear corner of the boat (quarter), or with the bow approximately
120-160 degrees from the source (eye) of the wind.
By-the-lee Running with the wind on the same side as the boom, increasing the possibility of an accidental jibe.
Burgee A flag, often triangular, that serves as the unique emblem for each yacht club.
Capsize A boat turned over on its side or upside down (turtled).
Cast off To untie a line and let it go, or remove a line from a cleat and let it go.
Catamaran A boat with two parallel hulls.
Centerboard A thin, wide blade going down through the bottom of the hull in the center of the boat. This blade helps to
keep the boat from going sideways in the water. It serves the same purpose as a leeboard or a dagger
board.
Center of Effort Center of sail area, the focal point of the forces generated by the sail area.
Center of lateral resistance Center of underwater hull profile, the focal point of the forces generated by the underwater
foils.
Cleat A fitting where a line can be secured.
Clew The aft lower corner of the sail is the clew. It is where the foot and the leech of the sail meet.
Close-hauled Sailing as close to the wind as possible.
Close reach Sailing with the wind forward of the beam, or with the bow approximately 60 degrees from the eye of the
wind.
Clove Hitch Similar to two half hitch knot. Most often used to hang fenders over side of boat for protection.
Course The direction a boat is steered to reach a destination; or the compass heading; or the angle a boat is
sailing relative to the wind.
Crew The people who help the helmsperson sail a boat.
Cockpit Open part of boat.
Cunningham A control line used to tension the forward edge (luff) of a sail, similar to a downhaul.
Dagger board Foil raised and lowered vertically used to reduce leeway, different from centerboard which is pivoted
instead of raised.
Dinghy An open boat, or one partially decked over without a cabin.
Dolly A lightweight trailer that is used to move boats from their storage rack to the launch dock.
Duct Tape A heavy duty, usually gray tape that will fix almost anything at least temporarily. You can never have
enough.
Ease To slack a line or sail, ie. To “sheet” out.
Eye of the Wind From the source of the wind; directly into the direction from which the wind is blowing from, the no-sailzone.
Fairlead Block or fitting used to change the direction of a running line such a jib sheet.
Feathering Sailing upwind so close to the wind that the forward edge of the sail is stalling or luffing, slightly thus
reducing the power generated by the sail and the angle of heel without stalling completely.
Fenders Cushions to reduce the chafe between a boat and the dock or other boats
Fiberglass Most modern boats are made of fiberglass. It is a woven material impregnated with a liquid resin that is
very stiff when the resin dries.
Figure 8 knot Stopper knot in the shape of an “8” used for the end of a line to prevent it from passing through a fairlead
or eye.
Fleet For racing purposes, sailors are grouped in fleets according to experience. The Sabot “A” fleet is the
more advanced group, with B, C and C3 fleets being progressively more basic.

Google "Barnacle Bill the Sailor." That'll tell you all you need to know.

Sailing Terms

quote:

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Starboard = right Port = left

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"The sailor Left Port"

Lighthouse was a great early 2000s band

Ropes controlling the sails are not ropes or lines, they are sheets.

Also, if you want to know how to tell if there are sharks in the water, dip your finger in the water and taste it. If it is salty, there are sharks there.

Just tell him you know the ropes about how to smash his daughters gash and that you like the cut of his jib when it comes to musical taste.

bowline
square
hitch
half-hitch

learn these knots. that will be plenty

If someone says they like the cut of your jib, they aren't talking about a sail. That's all I got.