Sailing
Made Easy
 
Sailing Terms
 
One of the most difficult tasks when starting something new, is learning the "language".

Sailing has its own language which has developed over the centuries and has not changed much since 1000 Be (Before email). To get you started on your first sailing lesson the following is an introduction to the language of sailing.

First thing, when you get on a Yacht, is to forget about UP, DOWN, FRONT, BACK, LEFT or RIGHT. but that is probably not the difficult bit - The first thing you will notice on the yacht is all the ropes which operate everything - And if you call them ROPE or ROPES then you will immediatly be branded a raw beginner!! - They are called Sheets, Lines, Halyards and a variety of other names but NEVER rope.

look through the details below - If you remember some of them -Great - if not, don't worry, our Instructors are great translators and will introduce you to the language during your courses.

Pleasant sailing............
Sailing Term Explanation
Crew Person who listens to the Skipper and then does as instructed.
Experienced Crew Person who 1/2 listens to Skipper then does what is necessary.
Experienced Skipper All Skippers - Inexperience does not exist!
Bow The front of boat - the "Sharp" end. Skippers never go here!
Stern The back of the boat - The "Blunt" End
Pulpit The stainless steel rails at the bow of the yacht - Skippers NEVER preach from here - they preach from the COCKPIT.
Pushpit The stainless steel rails at the stern of the yacht - To prevent the crew throwing the Skipper over the back!
Cockpit The place at the stern of the boat which has seats and a tiller or wheel where the skipper can be comfortable whilst he steers and preaches coaches the crew. (has no connection whatsoever with the cockpit used for fighting cocks)
Port The left hand side of the boat looking forwards. (PORT - LEFT = same number of letters. Port wine is red as is the light on the port side)
Starboard The right hand side of the boat looking forwards
Sheet A r*** which is attached to a sail on the loose corner - makes the sail the "right" shape
Halyard A r*** which is attached to a sail on the top corner - holds the sail up in the air
Line A r*** which is used to hold the boat to the dock
Brace A r*** which is attached to a spinnaker and held by the spinnaker pole
Head Very important - THE TOOT
Winning a Race Entirely due to the skill, seamanship,organising ability, and brilliance of the SKIPPER
NOT winning a Race Entirley due to the stupidity, ignorance and lack of effort by the CREW
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