Sailing Terms - basic sailing yacht

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Basic Sailing Yacht Terms

Rudder: A spade-like object at the back of the boat that steers the boat by deflection of the water.
Helm: The wheel (or tiller on smaller boats) that controls the direction the rudder is pointing.
Binnacle: The pedestal that is used to support the wheel.  It often has instruments mounted on it.
Winches: A mechanical device used to increase pulling power on a line (sheet).
Fairleads: Eyes or blocks that guide sheets in a desired direction.  Usually they are used for jibsheets.
Gooseneck: The fitting that connects the boom to the mast.  It works like a swivel allowing the boom to move up and down and swing from side to side.
Keel: The weighted fin at the bottom of the boat that keeps the boat from slipping sideways through the water.  It also helps to keep the boat upright.
Bulb: The bottom of the keel.  On racing yachts it is lozenge shaped.
Fender: often made of plastic they contain air and are used to keep the yacht away from the pontoon or other boats.  It is usually tied onto the guard rail with either a clove hitch or round turn and two half hitches.
Bow: Front end of the boat.
Stanchions: Vertical posts that hold guardrails in place.
Pulpit: Safety rail at the bow of the boat.
Stern: Back end of the boat.
Port: The left side of the boat when facing forward.
Starboard: The right side of the boat when facing forward.
Mast: The large vertical spar that supports the sail and boom.
Boom: The horizontal spar used to hold and extend the foot of the main sail.
Forestay: The wire (cable) that supports the mast from the bow and prevents the top of the mast from moving aft.
Backstay: The wire that supports the mast from the stern and prevents the top of it from moving forward.
Shrouds: The wires that support the mast from the sides and prevent it from moving sideways.
Bottlescrew: Device for adjusting tension on shrouds and stays.
Chainplate: Fitting that connects shrouds to hull.
Tang: Fitting that connects shrouds to mast.
Halyards: Lines or wire rope used to hoist the sails.
Sheets: Lines used to control the sails.  Trimming is tightening the sheet to move the sail towards the centreline of the boat and easing is letting it out.
Outhaul: Line used to tighten or tension the foot (or bottom edge) of the sail.
Cunningham: Line used to tighten or tension the luff (forward edge) of the sail.
Kicking Strap (Vang): Line used to pull the boom down.  It prevents the boom from lifting which causes the top part of the sail to twist.
Topping Lift: Line that holds up the end of the boom.  It prevents the boom from falling into the cockpit when the main sail is lowered.  Note some yachts are fitted with a rod kicker which prevents the boom from dropping.
Genoa Carr: used to adjust the angle of the Genoa sheets.
Jackstay: Used to clip onto when going to the bow.