Points of Sail
This point of sail has the wind hitting the side of the boat first, i.e. the boat is perpendicular to the wind.
What is a beam reach.
This part of the sail is located at, or towards the top of the mast.
What is the head?
This sail control pulls the sail in, or lets it out.
What is the main sheet
This is something I should always do before going out sailing to help formulate a plan for where you can sail, and what points of sail you will likely be sailing.
What is "checking the wind direction".
This is the part of the boat that the rudder mounts to. On powerboats, this is where the motor is mounted.
What is the transom.
This point of sail has the wind coming from directly behind the boat.
What is a run, or sailing downwind.
This part of the sail is at the back corner, located close to the back of the boom.
What is the Clew.
This sail control tightens or loosens the foot of the sail, allowing for more or less depth in the sail.
What is the outhaul?
This is something you should always do "yourself" before heading out on the water to make sure your boat is good-to-go.
What is "double check everything on my boat".
This is what we call the front of the boat.
What is the Bow
This point of sail is used to get up wind the fastest, and requires sailing as close to the wind as possible.
What is close-hauled.
This part of the sail is the entire back edge, sometimes referred to as the trailing edge. It runs between the head and the clew.
What is the Leech.
This sail control tightens or loosens the Luff of the sail.
What is the Cunningham.
This is something you should always do before going out to help you determine sailing conditions.
What is "check the weather".
This is what we call the right side of the boat, ***when facing the stern.
What is the Port side.
This point of sail is when your boat is pointing directly into the wind, and also makes your sail luff.
This part of the sail is located close to where the boom meets the mast.
What is the Tack.
This sail control tightens or loosens the leech of the sail.
What is the vang.
This is something you should always check before going out to make sure you don't take on water.
What is, "make sure your drain plug is in."
This is what we call the right side of the boat, ***when facing the bow
What is the starboard side
What is a close reach.
This part of the sail runs from the head to the tack, and is sometimes referred to as the leading edge of the sail.
What is the Luff.
On a Sunfish, this sail control pulls the sail rig up, or lets it down.
What is the Halyard?
This is something you should always do before going out sailing alone.
What is "make sure someone knows you're going out, and when, and where."
This is the part of the boat that we often sit it, or have our feet in while sailing.
What is the cockpit.