Boat Parts
This long pole attached to the bottom of the sail keeps the foot of the sail tight.
What is the boom?
The front of the boat.
What is the bow?
Turning the bow through the wind.
What is tacking?
When your sail begins to flap because it is no longer catching wind, it is doing this.
What is luffing?
This part of the rudder is the handle the sailor holds to steer the boat.
What is the tiller?
This vertical pole supports the sail.
What is the mast?
The back of the boat.
What is the stern?
Turning the stern through the wind.
What is gybing (jibing)?
If you are sailing on a beam reach and want to end up on a broad reach, you would need to steer in this direction.
What is away from the wind (bear away/fall off)?
Before launching, you should always make sure this small but important piece is installed so your boat stays afloat.
What is the drain plug?
This rope raises and lowers the sail.
What is the halyard?
The left side of the boat when facing forward.
What is port?
This position is directly into the wind, where the sail flaps and the boat loses power.
What is in irons?
Dark, rippled patches moving across the water usually indicate this.
What is a gust?
Located just behind the mast, this part helps keep waves and spray from entering the cockpit while sailing.
What is the splashboard?
This movable board underneath the boat helps prevent the boat from sliding sideways.
What is the daggerboard/ centerboard?
The right side of the boat when facing forward.
What is starboard?
The point of sail that is usually the fastest because the wind comes over the side of the boat.
What is a beam reach?
In most sailing races, you round the buoy by leaving it on this side of your boat.
What is the port side?
You finish rigging your Sunfish, but when you sheet in, nothing happens because you forgot one important step: clipping this line into the aft block.
What is the mainsheet?
This line controls the angle of the boom and therefore the trim of the sail.
What is the mainsheet?
This extension allows the sailor to steer while hiking out over the side of the boat.
What is the tiller extension?
This point of sail is impossible because the boat cannot sail directly into the wind.
What is head to wind (or no-go zone)?
During a race, you accidentally collide with another boat and accept that you were at fault. To take your penalty, you must do this before continuing to race.
What are two complete penalty turns (a 720° turn)?
This metal fitting acts like a hinge, connecting the boom to the mast while allowing it to pivot during tacks and gybes.
What is the gooseneck?