Turning away from the wind.
Word of the Week Bearing away
Toward the back of the boat.
A downwind sail, flown from the bow of a boat, from a short bowsprit [six-foot on a Clipper 70]. Asymmetric spinnakers can only be flown one way round, i.e. with one dedicated corner (the tack) attached to the bowsprit; one dedicated corner (the head) attached to the halyard; and one dedicated corner (the clew) attached to a sheet.
Asymmetric Spinnaker
Bed on board. There are 24 bunks on a Clipper 70.
Berth (bunk)
A pole running at a right angle from the mast.
Crew member who is responsible for most things that happen forward of the mast. Rigs the gear for spinnakers and for headsail changes.
(also called a downhaul). Adjusts the tension of a sail’s luff.
The action of turning the boat before the wind, i.e. turning her so that her stern goes through the wind.
Sailing closer to the wind.
Head up
Boat is pointing into the wind, sail is flapping and probably also going backwards.
In irons
A strong webbing strap running the length of the boat on each side. By clipping the lifeline to this, it ensures that Jack stays on the boat.
Another commonly used name for a spinnaker.
The course on which your boat, sailing close hauled on starboard tack, can just make a windward mark which is to be rounded to port is the starboard tack lay line for that mark. The most windward line on which you would approach the mark on port tack is the port tack lay line.
Lay line
The direction the wind is going; downwind.
The gap between the foot of the mainsail and the boom.
Turning the boat into the wind, sail flapping.
Line that controls the position of the mainsail.
An object the sailing instructions require a boat to pass on a specified side.
Mark (buoy)
A pole usually going straight up from the deck, used to attach sail and boom.
An object that a boat could not pass without changing course substantially to avoid it, e.g. the shore, perceived underwater dangers or shallows.
An adjuster that tensions the sail’s foot.
The left side of the boat when you are looking forward.
Wind across the port side.
Port tack
Sailing with the sail eased.
Reducing the amount of sail area.
The arrangement of a boat’s mast, sails and spars.
Underwater part of a boat used for steering.
Sailing before the wind with the sail out.
The position of the sails relative to the wind and desired point of sail. Sails that are not trimmed properly may not operate efficiently. Visible signs of trim are luffing, excessive heeling and the flow of air past tell tales.
Sail trim
A valve going through the hull which can be shut from inside the boat.
A very large lightweight sail used when running or reaching.
Spars extending toward the sides from one or more places along the mast. The shrouds cross the end of the spreaders, enabling the shrouds to better support the mast.
The right side of the boat when you are looking forward.
Wind across the starboard (right) side.
Starboard tack
The back end of a boat.
Changing direction by turning the bow through the wind.
(Also called a kicker). A device used to keep the boom from rising.
The direction the wind is coming from; upwind.