US SAILING BASIC KEELBOAT
VOCABULARY EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
Backstay - Answer-The standing rigging running from the stern to the top of the mast,
keeping the mast from falling forward
Back - Answer-To stop or to propel a boat backward by holding the clew of a sail out to
windward.
Bail - Answer-To empty a boat of water
Balance - Answer-the capability of a boat to sail straight without changing the tiller
position
Ballast - Answer-Weight in the keel of a boat that provides stability.
Barometer - Answer-a weather forecasting instrument that measures air pressure
Batten - Answer-A thin slat that slides into a pocket in the leech of a sail, helping it hold
its shape
Beam - Answer-the width of a boat at its widest point
Beam Reach - Answer-(point of sail) sailing in a direction at approximately 90 degrees
to the wind.
Bear away - Answer-To fall off, alter course, by heading away from the wind.
Bearing - Answer-The direction from one object to another expressed in compass
degrees.
Beating - Answer-A course sailed upwind.
Below - Answer-The area of a boat beneath the deck.
Bend - Answer-To attach a sail to a spar or a headstay, or to attach a line to a sail. a
knot used for joining two ropes.
,Blanket - Answer-To use a sail or object to block the wind from filling a sail.
Block - Answer-a pulley on a boat
Boat hook - Answer-A pole with a hook on the end used for grabbing hold of a mooring
or retrieving something that has fallen overboard.
Boat speed - Answer-The speed of a boat through the water.
Bolt rope - Answer-The rope sewn into the foot and luff of some mainsails and the luff of
some jibs by which the sails are attached to the boat.
Lazarette - Answer-A storage compartment built into the cockpit or deck.
Lazy sheet - Answer-The windward side jib sheet that is not under strain.
Lead (LEED) - Answer-to pass a line through a fitting or a block
Lee helm - Answer-The boat's tendency to turn away from the wind.
Lee shore - Answer-Land which is on the leeward side of the boat. Because the wind is
blowing in that direction, a lee shore could pose a danger.
Leech - Answer-the after edge of a sail
Leeward (LEW-erd) - Answer-The direction away from the wind (where the wind is
blowing to).
Leward side - Answer-the side of the boat or sail that is away from the wind
Leeway - Answer-Sideways slippage of the boat in a direction away from the wind.
Lifeline - Answer-Wire supported by stanchions, around the outside of of the deck to
help prevent crew members from falling overboard.
Life Jacket - Answer-a piece of equipment designed to assist a wearer, who may be
either conscious or unconscious to keep afloat
Lift - Answer-1. - the force that results from air passing by a sail, or water past a keep,
that moves the boat forward and sideways. 2.- a change in wind direction which lets the
boat head up
Line - Answer-A nautical rope
Low side - Answer-The leeward side of the boat.
Lubber's line - Answer-A small post in a compass used to help determine a course or a
bearing.
, Luff - Answer-1. - the forward edge of a sail. 2. - the fluttering of a sail caused by aiming
too close to the wind.
Luff groove - Answer-The slot into which the luff of a sail is inserted.
Luff tape - Answer-An attachment to the luff of a sail consisting of a small, internal
boltrope inserted into the luff groove on a roller furling system.
lull - Answer-a decrease in wind speed for a short duration.
Magnetic - Answer-In reference to magnetic north rather than true north.
Mainmast - Answer-The taller of two masts on a boat.
Mainsail (MAIN-sil) - Answer-The sail hoisted on the mast of a sloop or cutter or the sail
hoisted on the mainmast of a ketch or yawl.
Mainsheet - Answer-The controlling line for the mainsail.
Marlinspike - Answer-A pointed tool used to loosen knots.
Mast - Answer-The large aluminum or wooden pole in the middle of a boat from which
the mainsail his set.
Masthead - Answer-The top of the mast.
Masthead fly - Answer-A wind direction indictator on top of the mast.
Mast step - Answer-The structure that the bottom of the mast sits on.
Mizzen - Answer-The small aftermost sail on a ketch or yawl hoisted on the mizzen
mast.
Mooring - Answer-A permanently anchored ball or buoy to which a boat can by tied.
Nautical Mile - Answer-A distance of 6076 feet, equaling one minute of the earth's
latitude.
Navigation rules - Answer-Laws established to prevent collisions on the water.
No-Go Zone - Answer-An area into the wind in which a boat cannot produce power to
sail.
Nun - Answer-A red, even-numbered, cone-shaped buoy marking the right side of a
channel as you return to port. Nuns are usually paired with cans.
VOCABULARY EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
Backstay - Answer-The standing rigging running from the stern to the top of the mast,
keeping the mast from falling forward
Back - Answer-To stop or to propel a boat backward by holding the clew of a sail out to
windward.
Bail - Answer-To empty a boat of water
Balance - Answer-the capability of a boat to sail straight without changing the tiller
position
Ballast - Answer-Weight in the keel of a boat that provides stability.
Barometer - Answer-a weather forecasting instrument that measures air pressure
Batten - Answer-A thin slat that slides into a pocket in the leech of a sail, helping it hold
its shape
Beam - Answer-the width of a boat at its widest point
Beam Reach - Answer-(point of sail) sailing in a direction at approximately 90 degrees
to the wind.
Bear away - Answer-To fall off, alter course, by heading away from the wind.
Bearing - Answer-The direction from one object to another expressed in compass
degrees.
Beating - Answer-A course sailed upwind.
Below - Answer-The area of a boat beneath the deck.
Bend - Answer-To attach a sail to a spar or a headstay, or to attach a line to a sail. a
knot used for joining two ropes.
,Blanket - Answer-To use a sail or object to block the wind from filling a sail.
Block - Answer-a pulley on a boat
Boat hook - Answer-A pole with a hook on the end used for grabbing hold of a mooring
or retrieving something that has fallen overboard.
Boat speed - Answer-The speed of a boat through the water.
Bolt rope - Answer-The rope sewn into the foot and luff of some mainsails and the luff of
some jibs by which the sails are attached to the boat.
Lazarette - Answer-A storage compartment built into the cockpit or deck.
Lazy sheet - Answer-The windward side jib sheet that is not under strain.
Lead (LEED) - Answer-to pass a line through a fitting or a block
Lee helm - Answer-The boat's tendency to turn away from the wind.
Lee shore - Answer-Land which is on the leeward side of the boat. Because the wind is
blowing in that direction, a lee shore could pose a danger.
Leech - Answer-the after edge of a sail
Leeward (LEW-erd) - Answer-The direction away from the wind (where the wind is
blowing to).
Leward side - Answer-the side of the boat or sail that is away from the wind
Leeway - Answer-Sideways slippage of the boat in a direction away from the wind.
Lifeline - Answer-Wire supported by stanchions, around the outside of of the deck to
help prevent crew members from falling overboard.
Life Jacket - Answer-a piece of equipment designed to assist a wearer, who may be
either conscious or unconscious to keep afloat
Lift - Answer-1. - the force that results from air passing by a sail, or water past a keep,
that moves the boat forward and sideways. 2.- a change in wind direction which lets the
boat head up
Line - Answer-A nautical rope
Low side - Answer-The leeward side of the boat.
Lubber's line - Answer-A small post in a compass used to help determine a course or a
bearing.
, Luff - Answer-1. - the forward edge of a sail. 2. - the fluttering of a sail caused by aiming
too close to the wind.
Luff groove - Answer-The slot into which the luff of a sail is inserted.
Luff tape - Answer-An attachment to the luff of a sail consisting of a small, internal
boltrope inserted into the luff groove on a roller furling system.
lull - Answer-a decrease in wind speed for a short duration.
Magnetic - Answer-In reference to magnetic north rather than true north.
Mainmast - Answer-The taller of two masts on a boat.
Mainsail (MAIN-sil) - Answer-The sail hoisted on the mast of a sloop or cutter or the sail
hoisted on the mainmast of a ketch or yawl.
Mainsheet - Answer-The controlling line for the mainsail.
Marlinspike - Answer-A pointed tool used to loosen knots.
Mast - Answer-The large aluminum or wooden pole in the middle of a boat from which
the mainsail his set.
Masthead - Answer-The top of the mast.
Masthead fly - Answer-A wind direction indictator on top of the mast.
Mast step - Answer-The structure that the bottom of the mast sits on.
Mizzen - Answer-The small aftermost sail on a ketch or yawl hoisted on the mizzen
mast.
Mooring - Answer-A permanently anchored ball or buoy to which a boat can by tied.
Nautical Mile - Answer-A distance of 6076 feet, equaling one minute of the earth's
latitude.
Navigation rules - Answer-Laws established to prevent collisions on the water.
No-Go Zone - Answer-An area into the wind in which a boat cannot produce power to
sail.
Nun - Answer-A red, even-numbered, cone-shaped buoy marking the right side of a
channel as you return to port. Nuns are usually paired with cans.
