Sailing - Terminology

Revised: March 10, 1998

This document describes sailing terminology, with the latest updates.

Be dans le vent and up-to-date with the latest.

References are:

• "Sea of Words"
• Latitude 38, March 1998, "Max Ebb"
• Chapman

Let me know if you have additions.

References

• brick v. - to tightly fold or flake a sail into a compact, heavy rectangular shape
• bump v. - to pull or haul briefly but vigorously, as in "bump the topping lift at the mast"
• burn v. - to completely release a heavily loaded sheet or halyard.
• casper douse n. - spinnaker douse/takedown in which large portions of the spinnaker fall on top of the crew, resembling ghost costumes.
• crack off v. - to bear away or fall off
• crack v. - to ease a sheet or halyard slightly, especially on which is under heavy load
• delaminate v. - 1) to remove clothing by layers, 2) any structural failure of a composite structure, regardless of whether actual delamination is involved
• DFL adj. - dead effing last
• down and dirty adj. - describes condition of the helm at the initiation of a tack, replacing "helm-a-lee"
• downstairs n. - the cabin, or below-decks portion of a yacht
• Everest knot n. - any knot finished off with an excessive number of half-hitches to use up the running end, "because it's there". [Note: using only one half-hitch is "seamanlike"]
• flop v. - to come about or to tack
• frontsail n. - jib
• fun meter n. knot meter
• hip n. - windward quarter of a boat, referring to position of competitor, as in "on our hip"
• hump v. - any action involving significant physical effort, as in "hump the 150 genoa up on deck", on a large boat.
• Kiwi douse n. - spinnaker douse similar to "Mexican takedown", but with symmetrical spinnaker.
• made adj. - condition in which the spinnaker pole is re-connected to both the mast and the afterguy at the conclusion of a jibe. Usually hailed by the foredeck crew to indicate that this condition has been reached.
• Maui bag n. - bag of disposable old clothing brought on ocean race. Each article of clothing is thrown overboard after being worn [rather than wshing it]. "Here today, gone to Maui." [Cotton and biodegradables recommended.]
• Mexican takedown n. - Method of dousing a genniker whereby the boat jibes first, and the sail falls on deck, into the [preset] jib.
• overhaul v. - take up slack
• pointy end n. - the bow.
• racing stripes n. - fenders accidentally left out during race.
• send it v. - to hoist or raise, as referring to a sail being set. Usually used as a command.
• shrapnel n. - bits of metal hardware, such as blocks and shackles, normally stored in the 'jewelry box'
• snacktician n. - member of the crew primarily responsible for food.
• spaghetti patrol n. - the crew position responsible for methodically untangling and making up sheet and halyard tails (also, straightening out the "spaghetti" in the cockpit)
• spinny n. - spinnaker
• steam gage n. 1) knotmeter, 2) windspeed meter
• string n. - line or rope.
• tee up v. - to prepare a sail for hosting, as in "tee up the 150"
• tractor v. - to assist the clew of an overlapping jib or assymetrical kite around the mast and rigging during a tack or jibe.
• trip v. - to release the spinnaker pole from the guy and/or mast. Often used by the driver as a command to the foredeck crew at the beginning of a spinnaker jibe.
• twing, tweaker (also twang, twanger) n. - floating lead block which the spinnaker sheet is led through, used to improve the lead angle when the sheet is functioning as an afterguy, or to keep the sheet clear of the main boom. [Note: reduces rolling moment on downwind courses...highly recommended.]
• victory roll n. - tight 360-degree turn performed under sail in front of the yacht club after returning from a race, to indicate first-place finish [Note: other finishing and sailing yachts may have right of way!]

En francais

• les moutons n. ("the sheep") whitecaps when wind is in 15-25K range.
• m'aidez v. (pronounced MAYDAY in all languages) "Help me!". Indicates imminent life-threatening situation, to be taken VERY seriously.
• dans le vent phrase. Literally "in the wind", but meaning "au courant" or "really with it"
• le cooker n. snacktician
• merde expletive. General-purpose swear word, like "s**t", but more passionate and more universal.

Tacking commands