AquaCraft Vela One Meter - Manual (Page 4)

4
SAILBOAT TERMINOLOGY
BACKSTAY: A backstay is the line that runs from the top of the mast
to the stern of the boat. Like other stays, it is a strong wire, rod, or
line that is used to prevent the mast from being blown over. The
backstay is specifi cally designed to prevent the mast from blowing
forward. Backstays sometimes have adjustable tension in order
to shape the mast (and consequently the sail) in varying wind
conditions.
BOOM: A boom is a horizontal spar that is generally attached to the
mast at one end, and attached to the aft corner of a sail (the clew) at
the other end. The boom is used to hold the sail out in a horizontal
direction.
BOW: The bow is the front of the boat.
BOWSIES: Adjustment blocks located between the tops of the sails
and the mast.
BOWSPRIT: The bowsprit is a spar that extends forward of the hull
of a boat. It can be used for a variety of things, including a more
forward point to attach a forestay and/or a sail such as a spinnaker
or jib.
CLEAT: A cleat is a piece of hardware designed to hold a line. In the
most traditional sense, a cleat is a piece of metal or wood that is
shaped somewhat like an anvil. A special cleat knot is used to tie a
line to these traditional cleats.
DECK: The deck of a boat is the horizontal outside surface that one
walks upon. When you are outside on a boat, the deck is your fl oor.
When you are in the cabin of a sailboat the deck is usually the ceiling
above you.
FOOT: The foot of a sail is a reference to the bottom edge of a sail.
The forward corner of the foot is the tack, and the aft corner of the
foot is the clew.
FORESTAY: The stay that runs from the top of a mast to the bow of
the boat. As with other stays, a forestay is made from strong wire,
rod, or line, and is used to prevent the mast from being blown over.
On some sailboats, the forestay attaches to the mast slightly below
the very top. If this is the case, the sailboat is considered to have a
"fractional rig". A forestay may also be called a headstay.
HULL: The main structural outer skin of a boat. Most modern boats
have fi berglass hulls.
JIB: The sail that goes forward of a mast. The leech of a jib generally
does not go any further aft than the position of the mast. If it is
larger than that, it is considered a genoa.
KEEL: The part of a boat's hull that extends below the waterline, on
the boat’s centerline, that is used to counterbalance the tendency of
wind to blow a sailboat over. A keel generally is shaped something
like a fi n, so as to cut through the water and prevent sideways
motion of the boat. It also will always have weight at its lowest point
to prevent the sailboat from tipping over.
LUFF: The forward edge of a sail. The luff runs between the head of
a sail (at the top of a mast), to the tack of a sail (at the lower forward
corner of a sail).
MAINSAIL: The sail that is located aft of the mast on a sloop.
MAST: The vertical spars on boats. A mast is supported by stays so
that it does not blow over from the force of the sails. The purpose
of the mast is to provide the basic support for the system of sails.
Masts were originally made of wood, then aluminum, and now
they are sometimes made of carbon fi ber. The weight of a mast is
extremely important because it cancels out weight in the keel.
MASTHEAD: The top of the mast.
PORT: This is the left side of the boat when aboard and facing the
front (bow). An easy way to remember this is that port and left both
contain four letters.
RUDDER: Blade that turns the boat
STARBOARD: This is the right side of the boat when aboard and
facing the front (bow).
STERN: The back of a boat.
WEATHER AND LEE HELM: If the boat tends to turn windward, it’s
called weather helm. If the boat tends to turn away from the wind,
it’s called lee helm.
TYING BASIC KNOTS
BOWLINE KNOT:
FIGURE 8 KNOT:
SQUARE (OR "REEF") KNOT: