40 Sailing Terms: How to Talk Like a Sailor

In 1983, the American Sailing Association was founded by Lenny Shabes. Over the years, hundreds of thousands of sailors have become certified in the ASA sailing curriculum. This year, we celebrate 40 years as the leading sailing education entity in the United States. So when you get out on the water, you can be sure that ASA-certified sailors are sailing safely and confidently.

Sailing has its own language, and when you go through the ASA curriculum, you’ll find yourself using terms like port and starboard if talking about directions, or referring to a zephyr or a squall when discussing the weather. Some language is meant to help clarify sailing directions, while other terms sound like novelties or just sailors loving that we are part of a special club, but actually have super interesting origins and stories tied to them.

After 40 years, we are going strong, and we continue to help students not only talk like sailors, but become sailors. 

40 terms to help you start talking like a sailor

1. Aft – The rear section of the boat
2. Bow – The front section of the boat
3. Mast – The vertical pole that supports the sails
4. Boom – The horizontal pole that extends from the mast and supports the foot of the mainsail
5. Winch – A device used to adjust the tension on a rope or wire, usually used to hoist sails or adjust rigging
6. Helm – The steering wheel or tiller used to steer the boat
7. Tiller – A lever used to steer the boat by moving the rudder
8. Rudder – The hinged device at the back of the boat used for steering
9. Keel – The fin-like structure beneath the boat that provides stability
10. Centerboard – A retractable fin-like structure beneath the boat that provides stability and helps prevent sideways movement
11. Ballast – Heavy material, such as lead, placed in the bottom of the boat to provide stability
12. Beam – The width of the boat at its widest point
13. Freeboard – The distance from the waterline to the deck of the boat
14. Draft – The distance from the waterline to the deepest point of the keel or centerboard
15. Rigging – The ropes and wires used to support the mast and sails
16. Headstay – The wire or rope that runs from the top of the mast to the bow and supports the forestay
17. Forestay – The wire or rope that runs from the mast to the bow and supports the jib or genoa
18. Backstay – The wire or rope that runs from the top of the mast to the stern and helps support the mast
19. Shroud – The wire or rope that runs from the mast to the side of the boat and helps support the mast
20. Halyard – The rope used to raise a sail
21. Sheet – The rope used to control the angle of a sail
22. Jib – A triangular sail in front of the mast
23. Genoa – A large, overlapping jib that provides additional power
24. Mainsail – The large, primary sail that is attached to the mast and boom
25. Spinnaker – A large, colorful, balloon-like sail used for downwind sailing
26. Tack – The forward corner of a sail
27. Clew – The aft corner of a sail
28. Reef – To reduce the area of a sail in high winds
29. Port – The left side of the boat when facing the bow
30. Starboard – The right side of the boat when facing the bow
31. Leeward – The side of the boat away from the wind
32. Windward – The side of the boat facing the wind
33. Heeling – When the boat leans to one side due to wind or weight distribution
34. Running – sailing with the wind coming from behind the boat 
35. Hiking – The act of leaning out over the side of the boat to counteract heeling
36. Capsize – When a boat overturns or turns over
37. Jibe – A maneuver in which the boat turns downwind and the mainsail moves from one side of the boat to the other
38. Tack – A maneuver in which the boat turns into the wind and the mainsail moves from one side of the boat to the other
39. Nautical mile – A unit of measurement used to measure distance at sea, equivalent to 1.15 miles
40. Knot – A unit of measurement used to measure speed, equivalent to one nautical mile per hour

If you’re ready to take your knowledge to the next level, check out these ASA 101 Study Cards — great as a resource when you take ASA 101, 103, or 104 and even more fun later as a coffee table set to quiz your friends!