Basic Sailing Terminology Flashcards
What part of the sail is found between the tack and the clew:
Head
Leech
Reefing cringle
Foot
Foot
The foot of the sail is the lower edge between the tack and the clew. See the illustrations in SME p 21.
Common methods of attaching the luff of the mainsail to the mast are:
Shackle or bowline
Outhaul
Slugs or bolt rope
Gooseneck
Slugs or bolt rope
To hoist the mainsail, first attach the foot at tack and clew. Then attach the halyard to the head, feed the slugs or boltrope of the luff (forward edge) into the vertical groove of the mast, then hoist with the halyard. See SME p 30 for details
Telltales on luff of the jib are used by sailors to:
Estimate wind strength
Estimate true wind direction
Accurately assess boat speed
Correctly trim the sails and steer the boat
Correctly trim the sails and steer the boat
Telltales allow you to determine how wind is flowing over the sail, so that you can trim the sail to the wind, or steer the boat to the telltales. See SME p 60 for details.
When sailing close-hauled, your jib’s leeward telltales start to droop or move erratically. What could you do to make the telltales stream? Select all that apply.
Head up
Bear away
Trim in the jibsheet
Ease the jibsheet
Head up
Ease the jibsheet
A drooping leeward telltale indicates that the jib is over trimmed; the leeward side of the jib needs more wind. This can be accomplished by heading up to the wind, or easing the jib to make it more rounded. Ref: SME p 60
The mainsheet is a component of the:
Mainsail
Main spar
Standing rigging
Running rigging
Running rigging
Running rigging are the lines used to control the trim and shape of the sails, and include sheets and halyards. The mainsheet controls trim of the mainsail. See SME p 23 and 29.
Sailing “Close-hauled” is:
When the boat is sailing close to the wind at an efficient angle
When the mainsail is luffing erratically
When the boat is sailing at maximum hull speed
When the boat is sailing at maximum heeling angle
When the boat is sailing close to the wind at an efficient angle
Close-hauled is the point of sail just outside of the no-sail zone, at an angle to make best speed toward a wind-ward destination. Ref: SME p 46.
The windward side of the boat is:
The starboard side when sailing to windward
The port side when sailing by-the-lee
The side closest to the wind
The side opposite the wind
The side closest to the wind
The windward side is closest to the wind, while the leeward side is farthest from (opposite) the wind. Ref: SME p 20.
Jibing is:
A common way to change tacks while sailing on a downwind course
Dangerous and to be avoided at all costs
Easy to accomplish, in strong winds and big seas
A safer alternative to tacking
A common way to change tacks while sailing on a downwind course
A jibe is a maneuver in which the boat changes tacks by turning away from the wind. You should jibe from a broad reach on one tack to a broad reach on the other tack, centering the mainsail as the stern crosses through the wind. Ref: SME p. 50.
When sailing close-hauled on a port tack, which statement is true?
The true wind is always stronger on the windward side
The true wind is always stronger on the leeward side
The next maneuver will be a gybe
The jib sheet is trimmed to the starboard side
The jib sheet is trimmed to the starboard side
On a port tack, the wind is coming over the port side of the boat, pushing sails toward the starboard side. Trim the jib using the starboard (leeward) jib sheet. Ref: SME p.29.
If you are sailing along with an apparent wind angle of 130°, what point of sail are you on?
Broad reach
Starboard tack
Port jibe
Close reach
Broad reach
The apparent wind angle is referenced from the bow. If the apparent wind angle is 130°, the wind is aft of the beam, and is called a broad reach. Ref: SME p 16
The wind you feel when sailing a boat is known as:
Actual wind
Apparent wind
True wind
Virtual wind
Apparent wind
The apparent wind is a combination of the actual wind and the movement of the boat, and is the wind you feel when moving. Ref: SME p. 17
To change from a close reach to a beam reach on starboard tack, you must:
Head up
Tack
Jibe
Bear away
Bear away
