Basic Sailboat Terminology

With a 26-year background in investment and fund administration, Peyton F. Carter III, of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts and Richfield Springs, New York, owns Moonracer Opportunities and is a trainer with Career Collaborative in Boston. Having served as part of the Brookline, Massachusetts legislative body for two years, he also has a background in public service with other areas near his home in Chestnut Hill. In his free time, Peyton F. Carter III enjoys athletic activities such as tennis and baseball, as well as sailing.

Sailboat terminology can be daunting to anyone new to sailing, but since Boston is an old sailing town, the phraseology of boats and ships is part of its cultural legacy. The first thing to be familiar with before jumping onboard is the anatomy of a sailboat.

There are seven main components of a sailboat, which apply to any sailboat, regardless of size:

1. The bow is the front of the boat

2. The stern is the back

3. The boom is the long rod that the bottom of the sail attaches to

4. The mast is the very tall pole at the center which holds the sail

5. The mainsail is the largest sail

6. The keel is a weighted fin attached to the bottom of the boat at the center to keep it upright

7. The rudder, a blade attached at the rear, is what steers the boat

Other sailing terms that can be important include:

1. Halyard, which is the line that hoists the sail

2. Reefing, or shortening of the sails when the wind picks up

3. Tacking or jibing, which is turning the boat either upwind or downwind

Once familiar with the terms used in sailing, you can go on to learn how to manage a sailboat. It all may seem confusing at first, but it is primarily just a matter of determining wind direction and keeping full sails.