Sailing is filled with tradition, excitement and fun.
It is one of those rare sports that really has changed very little over the past century. The boats have improved, of course, but the sport itself has remained largely the same. Were glad that you decided to get your start in sailing by learning how to sail the Hobie way, and we hope that you keep the initial thrill of learning all through your sailing years. The sailing community is a fraternity of sorts. We believe that you have gotten one of the best initiations into this fraternity by learning to sail with us. Remember, there is no such thing as the sailor who knows everything. Don’t feel embarrassed if you make mistakes. Just have fun and learn from them. The more you learn, the more you’ll enjoy your new sport.
Aft: toward the stern
Back: to push sails out so wind pushes boat backward
Backwind: to push sails out so wind pushes boat backwards
Batten: a thin wooden or fiberglass strip placed in pockets of a sail to help hold its form
Bear: to move in a certain direction—to “bear up” is to turn windward; to “bear off“ is to turn to leeward; to “bear down on” is to approach another boat from windward
Beat: to sail windward
Boom: spar at the foot of the mainsail
Boomvang: a line used to hold boom steady for offwind sailing
Bow: the forward part of the boat
Broach: to swing broadside to a following sea or surf—a dangerous maneuver
Capsize: to turn over
Cleat: a fitting to which ropes are tied
Clew: the lower back corner of a sail
Close Hauled: sailing as close to the wind as possible
Come About: to tack (See “Tack”)
Downhaul: a line for hauling down a sail to give it more effective shape while hoisted
Downwind: sailing with the wind aft
Foot: the bottom edge of a sail
Fore: the forward part of a boat
Fore-and-aft: lengthways of a boat
Furl: to roll and tie a sail on a boom
Gooseneck: fitting connecting the boom to the mast
Grommet: a metal ring set into material for a line to attach to or through
Gybe: to cause sails to swing over to opposite side when wind is aft (also spelled jibe)
Halyard: a line used to hoist a sail
Head: the top corner of a sail
Heading: the direction of boat’s travel
Head Off: to turn boat away from the wind
Headstay: the forward wire supporting the mast
Head-to-wind: bow headed into the wind, sails luffing
Head Up: to turn boat toward the wind
Helm: the rudder or tiller steering the boat
Hike: to climb or lean out to keep the boat flat
Hiking Straps: straps under which the sailor tucks his feet to facilitate his leaning backwards out over the rail for better balance and safer sailing
In Irons: when tacking, a boat that will not come about but lies head-to-wind is said to be “in irons”
Leach: the after edge of a sail
Lee: the side of the boat away from the wind; opposite of weather
Leeward: direction away from the wind; opposite of windward
Leeway: drift sideways due to wind pressure
Luff: to head a boat into the wind; the forward edge of a sail
Luffing: flapping of sails as they fail to draw wind
Luff Rope: the rope sewed to the luff of a sail
Line: the common expression for a rope in use
Mast: vertical spar on which a sail is rigged
Masthead Fly: device for telling wind’s direction
Off The Wind: sailing any course except one to windward, which is called “on the wind”
Outhaul: a line used to haul the clew of a sail out to the end of the boom
Pinch: to sail a boat too close to the wind
Pointing: sailing close to the wind
Port: the left side of a boat, opposite of starboard
Rake: the amount a mast leans fore or aft
Reaching: sailing with the wind free, between sailing close hauled and running, close reach—wind forward of abeam; broad reach—wind aft of abeam; beam reach—wind abeam
Reef Points: a series of grommets through which short pieces of line are tied, located several inches above and running parallel to the boom used for reducing the area of the mainsail in heavy winds
Rigging: all the lines and wires of a boat; standing rigging—supports a mast; running rigging—controls sails
Righting Line: line used in righting capsized boat
Rudder: the blade which steers a boat; controlled by a tiller
Shackle: U-shaped fitting with a removable pin, used for securing halyards to sails, etc.
Sheet: rope used to control the sail
Shrouds: wires supporting the mast from the side
Spars: masts, booms
Starboard: the right side of a boat; opposite of port
Step: to set a mast in position
Stern: the back part of a boat
Tack: (“come about”): to change course so as to bring the wind on the opposite side of the sail by first heading into the wind; opposite of jibe; also the forward lower corner of a sail
Telltale: a short piece of ribbon tied to the shrouds on boats to indicate the wind direction and also to the sail to help trim the sail
Tiller: a bar connected with the rudder head; using this bar moves the rudder as desired
Traveller: metal track and car used for trimming mainsail
Traveller Car: car on the traveller to which mainsheet is attached
Trim: to set the sails at the correct angle to the wind
Upwind: toward the wind
Vang: a line to steady the boom when off the wind
Weather: toward the wind; same as windward
Windward: toward the wind; opposite of leeward
