ASA Basic Keelboat Sailing 101
Starboard Tack - ✔️✔️When the wind hits the right side of the boat and the boom is on
the left, often has right of way
Apparent Wind - ✔️✔️The combination of true wind and boat speed wind
Boom - ✔️✔️The spar at the bottom of the mainsail
Hull - ✔️✔️The body of the boat
Keel - ✔️✔️The weighted fin at the bottom of the boat
Bow - ✔️✔️The front of the boat
Stern - ✔️✔️The back of the boat
Cockpit - ✔️✔️The space where the helmsman sits
Rudder - ✔️✔️The fin used for steering
Tiller - ✔️✔️The lever used to steer a small boad
Cabin - ✔️✔️The enclosed space bellow deck
Stanchions - ✔️✔️Amidships support for the lifeline
Mast - ✔️✔️A vertical pole that supports the mast
Spreaders - ✔️✔️The small struts on the side of the mast
Forstay, Backstay, Masts - ✔️✔️Standing Rigging, Wires that support the mast
Boltrope - ✔️✔️Line sewn into the forward edge of the mainsail
Halyards - ✔️✔️Lines used to raise the sails
Sheets - ✔️✔️Lines used to trim the sails
Running Rigging - ✔️✔️Lines and other sail control lines
, Boom Topping Lift - ✔️✔️Line which raises the boom to a desired height
Telltales - ✔️✔️Pieces of yarn which indicate airflow over sails
Genoa/Lapper/150% - ✔️✔️A jib that overlaps the mast
Working Jib - ✔️✔️100% Jib
Storm Jib - ✔️✔️A small headsail used in heavy wind
Spinnaker - ✔️✔️The colorful sail used when sailing down wind
Head - ✔️✔️The top corner of a sail
Tack - ✔️✔️The forward lower corner of a sail
Shackle - ✔️✔️Metal clip which attaches the halyard to the sail
Winch - ✔️✔️Provides mechanical advantages for trimming a sheet
Fairlead - ✔️✔️On deck fitting which changes the angle of a line
Cleat/Cam, Clam, Horn - ✔️✔️Fitting used to secure a line under strain
Gooseneck - ✔️✔️Device that connects the boom to the mast
Block - ✔️✔️A nautical pulley
Boomvang - ✔️✔️Controls tension in the leech of the mainsail
Clew Outhaul - ✔️✔️Controls tension in the foot of the mainsail
Cunningham/Downhaul - ✔️✔️Controls tension in the luff of mainsail
Masthead Fly - ✔️✔️The arrow at the top of the mast
Bow Pulpit - ✔️✔️The steel railing at the bow of the boat
Weather Helm - ✔️✔️The tendency for the boat to turn towards the wind
Ready About & Hard a'Lee - ✔️✔️The commands given when tacking
Prepare to Jib & Jib Ho - ✔️✔️The commands given when jibing
Starboard Tack - ✔️✔️When the wind hits the right side of the boat and the boom is on
the left, often has right of way
Apparent Wind - ✔️✔️The combination of true wind and boat speed wind
Boom - ✔️✔️The spar at the bottom of the mainsail
Hull - ✔️✔️The body of the boat
Keel - ✔️✔️The weighted fin at the bottom of the boat
Bow - ✔️✔️The front of the boat
Stern - ✔️✔️The back of the boat
Cockpit - ✔️✔️The space where the helmsman sits
Rudder - ✔️✔️The fin used for steering
Tiller - ✔️✔️The lever used to steer a small boad
Cabin - ✔️✔️The enclosed space bellow deck
Stanchions - ✔️✔️Amidships support for the lifeline
Mast - ✔️✔️A vertical pole that supports the mast
Spreaders - ✔️✔️The small struts on the side of the mast
Forstay, Backstay, Masts - ✔️✔️Standing Rigging, Wires that support the mast
Boltrope - ✔️✔️Line sewn into the forward edge of the mainsail
Halyards - ✔️✔️Lines used to raise the sails
Sheets - ✔️✔️Lines used to trim the sails
Running Rigging - ✔️✔️Lines and other sail control lines
, Boom Topping Lift - ✔️✔️Line which raises the boom to a desired height
Telltales - ✔️✔️Pieces of yarn which indicate airflow over sails
Genoa/Lapper/150% - ✔️✔️A jib that overlaps the mast
Working Jib - ✔️✔️100% Jib
Storm Jib - ✔️✔️A small headsail used in heavy wind
Spinnaker - ✔️✔️The colorful sail used when sailing down wind
Head - ✔️✔️The top corner of a sail
Tack - ✔️✔️The forward lower corner of a sail
Shackle - ✔️✔️Metal clip which attaches the halyard to the sail
Winch - ✔️✔️Provides mechanical advantages for trimming a sheet
Fairlead - ✔️✔️On deck fitting which changes the angle of a line
Cleat/Cam, Clam, Horn - ✔️✔️Fitting used to secure a line under strain
Gooseneck - ✔️✔️Device that connects the boom to the mast
Block - ✔️✔️A nautical pulley
Boomvang - ✔️✔️Controls tension in the leech of the mainsail
Clew Outhaul - ✔️✔️Controls tension in the foot of the mainsail
Cunningham/Downhaul - ✔️✔️Controls tension in the luff of mainsail
Masthead Fly - ✔️✔️The arrow at the top of the mast
Bow Pulpit - ✔️✔️The steel railing at the bow of the boat
Weather Helm - ✔️✔️The tendency for the boat to turn towards the wind
Ready About & Hard a'Lee - ✔️✔️The commands given when tacking
Prepare to Jib & Jib Ho - ✔️✔️The commands given when jibing
