Sailing Glossary

Understanding sailing terminology helps you communicate more effectively with Yachtsy Agent. Here are key terms the AI understands and can provide detailed information about.

Boat Types & Rigs

Hull Configurations

• Monohull - Single-hulled sailboat
• Catamaran - Twin-hulled sailboat
• Trimaran - Three-hulled sailboat
• Displacement Hull - Hull that pushes through water
• Planing Hull - Hull that rises and skims over water

Rig Types

• Sloop - Single mast with mainsail and jib
• Cutter - Single mast with multiple headsails
• Ketch - Two masts, mizzen mast aft of main
• Yawl - Two masts, small mizzen mast behind rudder post
• Schooner - Two or more masts, foremast shorter than main

Sails & Rigging

Sail Types

• Mainsail - Primary sail attached to main mast
• Jib - Forward triangular sail
• Genoa - Large overlapping jib
• Spinnaker - Large, lightweight downwind sail
• Code Zero - Large reaching sail for light winds
• Storm Jib - Small, heavy-weather headsail
• Trysail - Small emergency mainsail

Rigging Components

• Boom - Horizontal spar supporting bottom of mainsail
• Spreaders - Horizontal struts supporting mast
• Shrouds - Wire stays supporting mast laterally
• Forestay - Forward wire supporting mast
• Backstay - Aft wire supporting mast
• Halyard - Line used to hoist sails
• Sheet - Line used to control sail angle

Points of Sail

• Close Hauled - Sailing as close to wind as possible (30-45°)
• Close Reach - Sailing 60-70° off the wind
• Beam Reach - Sailing 90° to the wind
• Broad Reach - Sailing 120-140° off the wind
• Running - Sailing directly downwind

Maneuvers

• Tacking - Turning bow through wind
• Jibing/Gybing - Turning stern through wind
• Coming About - Another term for tacking
• Bearing Away - Turning away from wind
• Heading Up - Turning toward wind
• Heaving To - Stopping boat using sails and rudder

Navigation & Weather

Wind Terms

• Apparent Wind - Wind felt on moving boat
• True Wind - Actual wind over water
• Windward - Direction wind is coming from
• Leeward - Direction wind is blowing toward
• Weather Side - Upwind side of boat
• Lee Side - Downwind side of boat

Navigation

• Dead Reckoning - Navigation by course and speed
• Piloting - Navigation using visible references
• Celestial Navigation - Navigation using sun, stars, moon
• GPS - Global Positioning System
• Chart Plotter - Electronic navigation display
• Waypoint - Specific navigation coordinate

Anchoring & Mooring

• Anchor Types - Plow, fluke, claw, Rocna, Manson
• Scope - Ratio of anchor line to water depth
• Set - Anchor digging into bottom
• Drag - Anchor not holding, sliding across bottom
• Rode - Anchor line (chain and/or rope)
• Windlass - Mechanical device for raising anchor

Safety Equipment

• Life Jacket/PFD - Personal Flotation Device
• Harness - Safety harness with tether
• Life Raft - Emergency inflatable boat
• EPIRB - Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
• PLB - Personal Locator Beacon
• VHF Radio - Very High Frequency marine radio
• AIS - Automatic Identification System

Common Sailing Terms

Boat Parts

• Bow - Front of boat
• Stern - Back of boat
• Port - Left side (facing forward)
• Starboard - Right side (facing forward)
• Beam - Width of boat
• Draft - Depth of boat underwater
• Freeboard - Height of deck above water
• Cockpit - Seating area for crew
• Companionway - Entrance to cabin below

Actions & Conditions

• Heeling - Boat leaning to one side
• Pitching - Bow and stern rising and falling
• Rolling - Side-to-side motion
• Broaching - Boat turning sideways to waves
• Knockdown - Boat heeled over 90 degrees
• Pitchpole - Boat flipping end over end

Racing Terms

• Mark - Buoy or object to be rounded
• Windward Mark - Upwind turning point
• Leeward Mark - Downwind turning point
• Start Line - Beginning of race course
• Finish Line - End of race course
• Right of Way - Rules determining which boat has priority
• Protest - Formal complaint about rule violation

Cruising & Comfort

• Galley - Kitchen area
• Head - Bathroom/toilet
• Berth - Sleeping area/bed
• Salon - Main living area
• V-berth - Forward sleeping area
• Quarter Berth - Aft sleeping area
• Dodger - Canvas cockpit protection
• Bimini - Canvas sun protection

Engine & Mechanical

• Inboard - Engine inside hull
• Outboard - Engine mounted on transom
• Saildrive - Engine with vertical drive shaft
• Shaft Drive - Traditional propeller shaft
• Folding Prop - Propeller that folds when sailing
• Feathering Prop - Propeller that adjusts blade angle

Example Queries for Yachtsy Agent

Here are examples of how to use these terms when asking Yachtsy Agent:

"What's the difference between a sloop and a cutter rig?"

"How do I calculate proper scope for anchoring in 20 feet of water?"

"Explain the best point of sail for maximum speed in light winds"

"What's the procedure for heaving to in heavy weather?"

"Compare displacement vs planing hull designs for coastal cruising"

"What size genoa should I use for a 35-foot sloop?"