Sailing Terminology
From MITNA
Here are some links to some terms that bluewater sailors will want to know about, which they may not have learned while sailing on the river. This includes terms that are not already described in Sailing and the Tech Dinghy, or terms that have significant additional information associated with them in the context of coastal sailing.
Pages that are linked to from this page will have general descriptions of these items with regards to coastal sailing. The descriptions will not necessarily have specific information about any MIT boats.
Contents
Boat Parts
Rigging and Sails
- Backstay
- Block
- Cringle
- Fairlead
- Forestay
- Genoa
- Guy
- Halyard
- Jib Car
- Lazy Sheet
- Leechline
- Reef Hook
- Reef Lines
- Reef Points
- Running Rigging
- Sheet
- Sheave
- Shrouds
- Spinnaker
- Spinnaker Pole
- Standing Rigging
- Stays
- Topping Lift
- Traveler
- Turning Block
- Turnbuckle
- Winch
On Deck
Docking/Mooring
Other Boat Parts
Equipment
Electronic Equipment
Safety Gear
- PFDs
- LifeSling
- Jacklines
- Man Oveboard Pole
- Handheld Flares
- Aerial Flares
- Orange Smoke
- Orange/Black Distress Flag
- Electric Distress Light
