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General sailing

Terms used to sail, navigate, and maintain a sail boat.

Contributors in General sailing

General sailing

spanker

Sailing; General sailing

The fore-and-aft sail set with boom and gaff on the mizen of a square-rigged ship; termed also the driver.

spar poles

Sailing; General sailing

Most often of wood, aluminum or carbon fiber, used as supports, such as the mast, boom, or spinnaker pole.

reaching

Sailing; General sailing

Sailing by or along the wind. A "reach" is the distance sailed between tacks, and means the same as board. To "reach" another vessel is to pass her. In reaching a schooner of 150 tons, say, will pass ...

by the lee

Sailing; General sailing

In running nearly before the wind, when a vessel runs off her helm so much as to bring the wind on the opposite quarter to which the boom is; a very dangerous proceeding, as if there be no boom guy a ...

close aboard

Sailing; General sailing

Near to, as the land is said to be close aboard when a vessel has approached it very closely.

bamboo spars

Sailing; General sailing

In small boats these are often used on account of their lightness. They vary much in strength, and should be from 10 to 20 percent greater diameter than solid wood spars.

painter

Sailing; General sailing

A rope spliced to a ring bolt in the bow of a boat to make fast by at wharves, steps, or other landing places. "To let go the painter" is figuratively to depart.

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