sailboat
Small monohull sailboat with a retractable centerboard; ballast is provided by the weight of the crew.
boom vang
Short rope for lowering a sail.
jibsheet
Cord that passes through the bottom corner of the jib to position it in relation to the wind direction.
cleat
Anvil-shaped wood or metal part to which a rope can be tied.
wind indicator
Instrument that indicates wind direction using a vane that rotates around a vertical axis.
telltale
Narrow light ribbon that is attached aloft to indicate the direction of the wind along the side of a sail.
mast
Long vertical pole that supports one or more sails; it is sometimes slightly inclined.
forestay
Rope or steel cable stretched from the mast to the bow; it secures the mast in front.
jib
Triangular sail that is rigged forward.
shroud
Heavy taut rope between a mast and the side of the ship; it secures and supports the mast on the sides.
crosstree
Horizontal part attached to the mast to separate the shrouds.
bow
Forward part of the boat’s hull.
hull
Part of the boat’s structure that forms a watertight vessel.
cockpit
Hollow place aft of the deck where the crew stays.
centerboard
Retractable keel that keeps the sailboat on course.
traveler
Metal bar running across the deck; a car travels back and forth on it to move the mainsheet.
rudder
Submerged component that pivots on a vertical axle and is used to steer the boat.
mainsheet
Cord that passes through the bottom corner of the mainsail to position it in relation to the wind direction.
tiller
Unit for controlling the rudder; the coxswain is the person who holds a sailboat’s tiller.
boom
Long piece of metal that articulates with the mast; it supports the lower edge of the mainsail.
sail panel
The bands of canvas whose sides are sewn together to form a sail.
mainsail
Boat’s principal sail; it is rigged to the mast and boom.
batten
Rigid pole inserted into the sail’s batten pockets to maintain its shape.
batten pocket
Slot into which a batten is slipped.
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