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.