The corners Well, it’s a triangle so there are 3 points. The top point is called the head. The head is attached to the halyard (the line – remember we have lines never ropes) which raises the sail. Below the…

Beaufort Miles per hour Km per Hour Land Description Sailing Description 0 <1 <1.6 Calm: Still: Smoke will rise vertically. Use the motor 1 1-3 1.6-4.8 Light Air: Rising smoke drifts, weather vane is inactive. Use the motor 2 4-7…

If you’ve been to a marina for a large gathering of any kind chances are you’ve seen a set of international code flags, or signaling flags. There’s always at least one boat in a flotilla festooned with flags up the…

Sailboats always have the right of way over powerboats. A sailboat with its engine on is a powerboat, even if it also has the sails up. When 2 boats meet, the boat with the right of way is called the…

Tacking A sailboat cannot go directly into the wind. There is no push/pull and the sail flaps uselessly (check out How a Sail Works). It is common knowledge that wherever you want to go, the wind will be directly on…

A spinnaker or chute is a large (usually bright coloured) sail flown in front of the jib when on a downwind course. When you are on a downwind course your apparent wind decreases. If you want speed, you have to…

In Irons: within 45 degrees of the wind, also known as dead in the water Close Hauled: Sailing as close to the wind as possible, this is also known as pointing Close Reach: Sailing between close hauled and beam reach….

Basic Sailboat Terms Rudder: A spade-like object at the back of the boat that steers the boat by deflection of the water. Tiller: The lever that controls the rudder. Larger boats have a wheel instead of a tiller. Winches: A…

Reef knot An excellent general purpose knot for tying two pieces of string or twine together, the reef knot is possibly the most commonly used knot for the job, and is easy to learn. However, it cannot be overly stressed…

If the wind blows against one side of the sail, then it pushes the boat downwind. If the wind blows equally on both sides of the sail, you have a flag and the boat goes nowhere. If the wind splits…

Avast me hearties, haul the mizzen, run the jib and turn off, there’s a leeshore on starbord! Huh? Sailing is like learning a foreign language. Here’s a little help. Sailing directions Beam reach versus dead in the water. Basic sailboat…

Trimming is tightening the sheet to move the sail towards the centerline of the boat (pulling the sail in) and easing is letting it out.

A genoa (or genny) is a jib whose clew reaches abaft (aft of – behind) the mast. It’s size is designated as a percentage of the foretriange. (The foretriange is the area between the forestay and the mast). Genoas range…

Watch out for the botalón (boat-ah-LONE)!!! Botalón or boom is a noun, they’re here. Verbs are here. The four letter words that sailors have been known to use, you know, like when the botalón just hit you on the head…

Here’s a Sailorgirl tip on how to make your life easier when checking in or out with customs officials: Have ALL your boat information and crew lists in a handy dandy form photocopied to give the nice customs person. Before…

The stick in the middle is the mast. The grey sail to the left of the mast is the main sail. The green sail on the boat on the left is a jib and the blue sail on the boat…