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A Guide to Understanding Sailing Terms

Sailing is a fun and enjoyable sport, one that should be tried out by everyone at least once. It is not only enjoyable but also physically exerting so it is great for the body as well. Anyone who is interested in sailing should first become more educated on the sport however, and in particular this means understanding the different sailing terms.

Sailing Terms

There are many sailing terms that one should learn, but a few in particular which are very commonly used and therefore more important. Abeam means directly to the side of the boat, about means on the opposite tack, aft means at or near the stern, alee means to the leeward side, aloft means above the deck, block means a pulley, and bollard refers to a short heavy post on a pier or boat that is used for fastening docking lines.

There are many other important sailing terms as well, including broad reach which means the point of sailing between a beam ranch and a run, capsize means to overturn, close reach means the point of sailing between close hauled and a beam reach, cutter is a single masted fore and aft boat having an inner staysail and outer jib, hank is a fitting used to attach the luff of a sail to stay, headway means to move forward and headstay means a forward stay.

Tips and Tricks

Besides understanding about the different sailing terms, there are also many tips and tricks that can be helpful. Improving speed while sailing is one very important issue and it is important to keep in mind that the hiking position in the boat is very important. The best idea is to try and keep the boat level both fore and aft, and this applies both up and down wind.

Working the boat is very important, especially during a race, and no sailor should stop working the boat from the time that the starting gun goes until the very end of the race. It is important to continue to work the mainsheet, steering over waves and moving around to keep the boat flat.

Steering over waves is important and the most ideal thing to do here is to push the tiller away as the boat goes up and over the waves and pull the tiller closer when the boat is going down the other side. The speed of the boat will be increased greatly by doing this, and it will also make the ride a great deal smoother.

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