How to Understand Basic Nautical Terms

Sailing has a language all its own and learning some basic words and phrases will not only allow the novice to understand what's happening but could keep the inexperienced sailor out of trouble. There are literally thousands of nautical phrases. The ones listed below are among the most basic and the most-used.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Know windward from leeward. The windward side of the boat is the side over which the wind is blowing. If the wind is coming from the left, the port side of the boat is the windward side. Leeward is opposite of windward.

2. Come up, fall off. When someone says he wants to come up on the wind, he intends to steer closer to the direction from which the wind is blowing. When a skipper falls off, he steers the boat more downwind.

3. Sheets. The nautical term for lines that open and close sails. It is also a verb--sheeting in means to haul in the sail, while sheeting out means to let out the sail. Sheets are also part of the rigging of a sailboat.

4. Port, starboard, forward, aft, stern, bow. These are some of the most basic directional terms any sailor hears. Port is left, starboard is right. Forward means in front of the position the captain occupies. Aft is behind the captain. The stern is the rear of the boat while the bow is the front.

Tips & Warnings

• Anyone, from an expert to a beginner, can benefit from reading the "bible" of sailing, "Chapman Piloting, Seamanship and Small Boat Handling." Now in its 65th edition, Chapman defines just about every nautical term anyone might hear.
• There are many, many--literally hundreds--of nautical terms. These are just a few basics. If you hear words or terms you don't understand, always remember to ask the meaning.