Sailboat Racing Terms

Here are some of the most common terms needed to understand conversation about sailboat racing.

Yacht: Any boat used primarily for recreation or pleasure, regardless of size or appointments. A yacht may be any size and have many luxuries or none.

Directions

Bow & Stern: The bow is the front of the boat; the stern is the rear
Forward, Aft: Forward is toward or beyond the bow. Aft is toward or beyond the stern.
Port & Starboard:: The starboard side of the boat is to the right, facing forward. The port side is to the left.
Beam, abeam: The beam is the side of the boat, either port or starboard. As a measurement, it refers to the broadest part of the boat.
Abeam or "on the beam" mean directly to the side, perpendicular to the boat's centerline.
Windward & Leeward:: Windward is the direction the wind is coming from, "upwind". Leeward is the direction it is blowing to, "downwind".
For rules purposes, the leeward side of a boat is the side the mainsail is on.
By the Lee: A boat is sailing "by the lee" when the wind comes from the same side that the mainsail is on. This is sometimes fast, but inherently unstable.

Wind & Points of Sail

Shift

A shift is a change in the wind direction, which may be temporary or continuing. A wind shift changes the relative positions of the racing boats, advantaging some, disadvantaging others.

Velocity Shift

A change in the wind speed, which initially appears as a change in direction.

Knot

May mean either a knot in a line or a unit of speed. One (1) knot is one nautical mile per hour. A nautical mile represents one minute of the earth's latitude, about 6073 feet. It's about 15% greater than a statute mile of 5,280 feet.

Heavy, Moderate, Light Air

Describes the wind strength (speed). Light air is considered to be 0 to 8 knots; moderate air 9-15 knots, and heavy air 16 knots or more.

Clear Air, Dirty Air

The terms describe whether a boat is receiving interference to her sailing wind from another boat or boats.

Close-hauled:

Describes the closest course to the wind a boat can sail. No boat can sail directly into the wind; all must sail at an angle to it. The optimum angles range from 30 degrees to 60 for different boats. To reach a point directly upwind, boats must sail close-hauled on both tacks. The term comes from the sails needing to be trimmed in tightly toward the boat's center-line.

Head Up, Bear Off

To head up is to turn toward the wind (higher course). To bear off or fall off is to turn away from the wind (lower course).

Tack:

Can be either a noun or a verb and has three different meanings, determined by context. As a noun, a boat is "on a tack" when sailing and not changing tacks. On starboard tack, the wind comes from the starboard side of the boat and the mainsail is on the port side. On port tack, the opposite. Another noun meaning is the forward, lower corner of a sail. As a verb, a boat is "tacking" when it is changing tacks from starboard to port or vice versa while sailing upwind.

Crash-tack, Auto-tack

A crash-tack is an emergency change of tacks for which the crew has not had time to prepare. An auto-tack is a tack which the helmsperson did not initiate.

Foot, Pinch

A boat foots when it sails slightly below an optimum windward course in order to gain speed. A boat pinches when it sails a higher than optimum course to windward.

Gybe, Jibe:

This term for downwind sailing can also be a noun or verb. As a noun, it describes either the starboard or port jibe. As a verb, a boat is "jibing" when its stern swings through the wind direction, changing from starboard jib to port.

Broach

In a broach, a boat "spins out" (of control), usually into the wind and often resulting in torn sails or other damages and possible injuries.

Capsize

In a capsize, a boat is pushed onto its side, with its mast parallel to or in the water. "Turtling" describes a capsize in which the boat inverts completely.

Beat

A beat is a leg of the course on which boats sail to windward; they are "beating". The most effective beating course is close-hauled.

Reach

A reach is a leg of the course in which boats sail across the wind. Categories of reaches include

Tight reach -- near close-hauled
Beam reach -- A beam reach is usually the fastest point of sail &
Broad reach -- near a run.

Run

A run is a leg of the course on which boats sail to leeward; they are "running". Though boats can sail directly downwind, it is often faster and safer to sail at angles to the downwind direction.

Parts of a boat

Mainsail:: The primary sail on a boat, also called a "main". On boats with one mast, the mainsail is attached to the aft portion of the mast. On boats with more than one mast, the mainsail is attached to the tallest one.
Jib:: The jib is the forward sail on a sloop rig. If the jib is large enough to overlap the mast, it is called a "genoa". A small jib may also be called a "blade".
Spinnaker:: A large and often colorful sail for sailing off the wind. Also called "chute" or "kite".
Line:: A rope that has been put to use, though some sailors use "line" to describe a rope they intend to use.
Rope: Any flexible fabric or wire length that is not in use. When in use, it becomes a line.
Sheet:: A line for controlling the angle of a sail to the wind. Never a sail!
Halyard: A line used to raise and lower sails.
Rudder:: One of two types of underwater foils. The rudder is used for steering the boat. Racing sailors use as little rudder as possible -- to avoid slowing the boat.
Tiller:: A lever for controlling the rudder. A tiller extension allows the helmsperson to control the rudder while sitting outboard to help balance the boat. Some larger boats use a steering wheel for this purpose and have a tiller only for emergencies.
Weather Helm, Lee Helm: Describes pressure on the tiller or wheel & reflects the boat's tendency to turn upwind (weather helm) or downwind (lee helm). These are caused by an imbalance of forces. A slight degree of weather helm is usually considered preferable.
Keel:: Another underwater foil on a sailboat. It has two purposes (1) to keep the boat from capsizing and (2) to provide lift for sailing to windward. "Keelboats" have heavy keels to prevent capsizes.
Centerboard:: A centerboard serves the functions of a keel, though it weighs less and provides less righting to prevent or recover from capsize. Variations are called "daggerboards" or "leeboards". All may be raised for sailing downwind and lowered for sailing upwind.

Racing

Race: A race is a sailing competition between boats, in which they start at a particular time, sail the same course and try to complete it fastest.
Regatta: A regatta is made up of several races in a short time frame: a day, a weekend, or a week.
Series: Many races over a longer period of time constitute a series.