Below is a list I compiled of basic sailing terminology that I quickly had to learn upon moving aboard ZV. A lot of these words I had never heard in my 26 years of life. I will continue to update this list as it grows.
- Port and Starboard: left and right. (Tip: remember left/port both have 4 letters right/starboard do not)
- Head sail: also referred to as the jib or Genoa. The sail on the bow of the boat.
- Mainsail: the sail connected to the mast of the vessel.
- Companion way: the stairs leading below deck
- Cabins: bedrooms
- Head: bathroom
- Lazarettes: storage lockers in the cockpit and on the swim platform used for storage
- Anchor snubber: a line attached to a cleat and hooked onto the anchor chain when it is dropped. It’s purpose is to reduce tension on the chain.
- Windlass: mechanical doodad that pulls in the anchor
- Cleat: stainless steel post used to tie off lines to
- Running lights:red and green lights located on the sides of a vessel, turned on while in motion to indicate leaving and returning
- Spreader lights: high power lights that illuminate the deck
- Bimini: cover above the steering wheel
- Dodger: cover above the companion way
- Hatch: glass windows that open and form a sealwhen closed
- Thru Hull: a pipe that goes out of the boat through the hull ex:sink and toilet
- Main Halyard: line that goes to the top of the mast. Raises mainsail. (Halyard lines can be located in different places on boat so always refer to it as “____” halyard)
- Jib/Genoa/Headsail: same thing
- Tack: pull the port side lines to bring headsail into the wind
- Jibe: pull starboard lines to bring head sail into the wind
The Maiden Sailor 